YALA - A policeman is on the run after opening fire with an assault rifle at guests attending the farewell party of a fellow officer, killing two and injuring 14 people.
The shooting, behind Batu Tamong police station in tambon Tham Thalu, occurred at 7.45pm on Tuesday.
Guests at the party, mostly policemen and their families, hid under tables or fled in panic.
Pol Capt Jariyapat Sukchum, a deputy chief investigator at Than Tho station, said the dead victims were two policemen.
Police said Hassapol Soprakhon, attached to Batu Tamong station, and one of the guests, fled after firing an M-16 rifle indiscriminately at party-goers.
Nine police were wounded, along with five civilians, four of them women.
The injured were rushed to Than Tho station. Most of the victims were police attached to Batu Tamong station in Bannang Sata district.
The slain officers were named as Pol Capt Natthawat Churat, 39, deputy crime suppression chief at Batu Tamong, and Pol Snr Sgt Maj Sayant Phettem, 44.
Police cordoned off the crime scene in front of the police living quarters in the compound of Batu Pamong station. Forensic investigators were examining the area.
Pol Maj Gen Ronnasilp Phusara, acting commander of Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre, said Pol Cpl Hassapol is from Buri Ram province and his wife still lives in the northeastern province.
Pol Maj Gen Ronnasilp said Pol Cpl Hassapol worked hard and had not returned home for a long period when he found out his wife had allegedly associated with another man.
Pol Cpl Hassapol revealed his family problems to his police friends, Pol Maj Gen Ronnasilp said.
Pol Maj Gen Ronnasilp said that about an hour before the shooting, the suspect went to his friend's house and found him having dinner with his wife. He said: "I hope you are happy like this, it is only me that is stressed."
Pol Maj Gen Ronnasilp admitted that several police officers at the centre were stressed, particularly those who left their hometown in another region.
