Two para-military rangers were killed and eight others were injured in an ambush by southern insurgents in Rue So district of the southern Thai province of Narathiwat on Sunday.

It is reported that a 10-man ranger unit, led by Captain Chaiyuth Sukbu, was on its way to visit villagers building an arch, to celebrate the end of Ramadan, when they came under attack from insurgents hiding in roadside bushes in Batong sub-district.

Rangers Prakong Sudthanang and Wittaya Bua-ngam died in the exchange of gunfire.

Police and troop reinforcements were rushed to the scene and took all ten rangers to the provincial hospital, but two of them were pronounced dead on arrival.