SONGKHLA, Sept 11 (TNA) – Thai security forces are engaged in a fierce manhunt in the country’s restive southern region after a clash with suspected insurgents, officials said.
The operation is centered on the village of Ban Huai Tao in Songkhla province, a part of the Muslim-majority deep south plagued by a decades-long insurgency.
The confrontation began when a patrol unit encountered a group of four to five armed men, who opened fire on the troops before retreating into the village. Authorities from Sabayoi district and neighboring areas have since established a perimeter to contain the suspects.
A security official confirmed the group is believed to be led by a local insurgent commander identified as Usmi. His cell is known to be active in the Sabayoi district.
In a separate incident during the operation, an armored vehicle fell into a ravine while en route to the scene. Eight soldiers were injured and have been transported to a hospital.
Thailand’s national police chief, General Kitrat Phanphet, has been briefed on the intensifying clash. The incident highlights the continued security challenges in a region where about 6,000 people have been killed since the conflict escalated in 2004. -819 (TNA)
