A key figure of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) southern insurgency network was shot and killed in a gunfight with paramilitary rangers in Narathiwat Sunday while three men have been arrested following the incident.
Rueangsak Buadaeng, Rueso police chief, said Ahama Maerao, 29, was killed by rangers in a house in Bantamang village in tambon Batong, Rueso district.
He was speaking as he led a team of authorities including forensic scientists, doctors and prosecutors to inspect the house.
The inspection found Ahama lying dead in a pool of blood under a tree behind the house with three gun shot wounds to his back, ribs and torso, police said.
A pistol and bullets were found near the body, a military officer said.
Authorities also seized a black motorcycle with a Yala-registered licence plate found near the house as evidence, Pol Col Rueangsak said.
Ahama's body was taken to Rueso Hospital for a postmortem examination, police said.
Pasit Chanlekha, head of the 46th Ranger Taskforce, said a team of rangers had tracked the RKK network down in Rueso district three days ago after receiving a tip-off from an intelligence source.
According to the agency, the network of four to six people was hatching a plan to carry out an attack in the district, he added.
A search found suspects were hiding on the second floor of the house in Bantamang village, Col Pasit said.
The suspects were on the lookout for authorities and opened fire when they saw them approach.
Authorities returned fire in an exchange that lasted around 10 minutes in which Ahama was shot and killed, he said.
Authorities arrested three men in the incident, he added.
A resident of Narathiwat, Ahama was seen as a key figure in the RKK southern insurgency network and was wanted by Narathiwat and Yala police.
The group is thought to have some six members and carries out attacks in Narathiwat and Yala, according to authorities.
It is not kmown how many of those arrested were regular members.
