Two southern insurgents were shot dead on Friday morning, in clashes with security forces in the mountains of Sabayoi district of Songkhla, close to the border with Pattani province.
Informed security sources say that the insurgents, numbering between 5 and 7, managed to break out of a siege by security forces in Ban Huai Tao village in Sabayoi district, following three gun battles. Some of them are, however, thought to have been injured in yesterday’s clashes, as trails of blood were found near their hideout in a rubber plantation.
The insurgents reportedly escaped uphill, towards Pattani province, while security forces stayed in hot pursuit. Forces in Pattani were also dispatched to intercept the fleeing insurgents.
At dawn today, a para-military ranger unit managed to intercept the insurgents and engaged in a fierce firefight, resulting in the deaths of two insurgents.
Meanwhile, in Panareh district of Pattani last night, one backhoe, belonging to a road construction company, was set ablaze by suspected insurgents. There were no casualties reported.
