Two paramilitary rangers were killed in an ambush in Pattani’s Mae Lan district early Tuesday morning, police said.
Pol Col Pitak Uthaitham, chief of Mae Lan police station, said he led officers to the scene after receiving reports of the shooting on the Pattani-Yala road in Ban Ludong, Mae Lan at 4.30am.
According to witnesses, six rangers on three motorcycles were patrolling on the road when gunmen hiding in the roadside forest opened fire on them with M16 assault rifles. The rangers fired back and the attackers retreated after a brief gunfight.
Pvt 1st class Ronawit Saising, 31, and ranger Kriangsak Thoopputtha, 31, were shot several times and died on the spot.
Police blamed separatist militants.