Army rangers recovered two assault rifles stolen from the military, a Tavor and an M16, in a search at a rubber plantation in Chanae district of Narathiwat province on Monday.
The search was carried out by a 30-strong special operations unit of the 46th Ranger Regiment. It followed information provided by two supporters of an RKK insurgent group led by Masolae Salae who had earlier been held for questioning by the military.
The unit, led by Col Ekthawut Kongkakhet, the regimental commander, searched a rubber plantation near Ban Ire Jueros, a hillside village in tambon Chang Phuak. The Tavor and M16 were found at different spots, along with other articles including a mobile phone.
The soldiers believed the Tavor rifle was stolen from a unit of Narathiwat Task Force 34 that once operated in Chanae district.
The M16 was believed to have been stolen by militants during an attack on a marine outpost in tambon Marubo Tok in Rangae district of Narathiwat on Jan 19, 2011.
The two weapons will be examined by a forensic unit in Narathiwat to see if they were used in insurgent attacks.
