A ranger was killed and three other members of the security forces injured in attacks in the southern border provinces of Pattani and Yala on Monday.
Police said a regular soldier and a volunteer ranger were seriously wounded when a bomb exploded at Ban Kalapho School in Pattani's Sai Buri district about 1.35pm.
Chief Warrant Officer Amnat Thuam-am was hit by shrapnel in the right thigh and hip and ranger Wisanukorn Wuthi was hit in both legs. They were admitted to Sai Buri Hospital.
They were members of a team from Rangers Company 4411 providing security for teachers at the school on Highway 42 (Pattani - Narathiwat) in tambon Trobon, Sai Buri.
In Yala, a ranger was killed and another slightly wounded when their patrol was ambushed by militants in Thanto district about 6.30am.
A foot patrol from Rangers Company 3314 was attacked while providing security for teachers along Thanto - Puyut road in tambon Thanto, about two kilometres from Highway 410 (Yala - Betong).
Militants hiding on both sides of the road detonated a land mine and opened fire at the rangers in an ambush. The soldiers returned fire and the militants withdrew after a 15-minute clash.
One ranger, Donchai Saeng-aree, was killed by the bomb. Another ranger, Jakri Khammee, was slightly injured.
Junta secretary-general Udomdet Sitabutr meets religious leaders in Yala on Monday, July 7, 2014. (Photo by Muhammad Ayub Pathan)
The incidents occurred as Gen Udomdet Sitabutr, the deputy army chief and secretary-general of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), and officials of the National Security Council (NSC) flew south to Yala on Monday morning.
Before leaving Bangkok, Gen Udomdet told reporters this was his first visit to the far South since Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, chief of the military junta, last month assigned him to chair a new panel to put policies into practice in the region.
He said Gen Prayuth wanted improved, tighter cooperation between different security agencies in the far South.
Gen Udomdet said the level of violence had dropped during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan when compared to last year. He said this was because the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) was able to get a better grip of the situation.
The deputy army chief said he and his entourage were to discuss the new policy for the deep South with soldiers in the region and meet local religious leaders.
Peace talks with insurgent groups would continue, but there would be some changes to the negotiation process. The National Security Council (NSC) was in charge of this matter, he added.