By D. Arul Rajoo, Bernama,
Bangkok : Seven suspected insurgents were shot dead as Thai security forces’ hunting for hiding militants combed a forest in Bannang Sata district of Yala.
Army spokesman Col Akara Thiproj said the seven were killed during a shoot-out with soldiers and policemen near the Banglang Dam.
“We hope to catch the remaining militants by today. They have been hiding there since last week after killing two policemen,” he told Bernama.
It was the biggest casualties suffered by militants in a single day in recent months as violence escalated in the three Muslim-majority provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.
Akara said the hideout of the militants were made known to the authorities by villagers and helicopters were sent to the area to hunt them down.
Since a raid on an army camp in Narathiwat in January, 2004, more than 3,300 people have died in daily violence, largely blamed on separatists seeking independence for the three provinces bordering Malaysia.
On Saturday, insurgents stormed a moving train and shot dead four railway workers in a daring attack in Narathiwat.
The army also suffered a major blow on Friday when 10 people, including eight soldiers, were killed when a Thai Army helicopter carrying a forensic team crashed in Yala due to technical problems.
Military intelligence officers in the south said the escalating violence was due to the attempt by militants to garner media coverage as such news on the local media have reduced following political uncertainties in Bangkok, where thousands of anti-government supporters were camping outside the Prime Minister’s Office to demand his ouster.
“They are carrying out more attacks in the open now to ensure widespread coverage to make sure the southern issue is not forgotten,” a military officer said.