Pre-dawn fight kills key insurgent in Narathiwat

About six militants fended off a combined forces of 150 soldiers during the standoff that ended when the insurgents retreated in the wooded area, leaving behind one dead.

The security forces were dispatch to Tambon Rusoh of the district with the same name after receiving intelligence that a number of insurgents have hid their weapons in the area. But the blind search turned into a fierce gun battle.

The two injured officers were identified as Pol Major Nopsran Artsanjorn, 42, Pol Sgt Sombat Kaewnoo, 38, both of whom assigned to the Rusoh district police station. The dead militant was identified as Mahamah Cheputeh, 45, a resident of Rusoh.

About 20 minutes later, after the insurgents retreated, police found one militant laid dead with a 9mm handgun next to his side in house where he and others had positioned himself.

Blood trail, possibility from injured militants, and dozens of empty casings of M16 and AK47 scattered all over the floor, police said.

Police deained Koyar Hawae, 37, the owner of the house where the militants had positioned themselves, for questioning.