NARATHIWAT: An army ranger was killed plus seven policemen and two civilians injured by bomb blasts in a rubber plantation in Sungai Padi district yesterday, law enforcement said.
The first explosion happened about 6. 30am about 500 metre distances from Khok Kai village in tambon To Deng. A nearby woman, rubber tapper Pathum Nakthong, has been seriously injured.
Police, rangers and an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team were sent to the plantation. Regarding 7. 40am, whilst they were clearing the region, another bomb exploded, about 200 metre distances from the first.
M/Sgt Somchai Daeng-ngoen, of Ranger Company 4818, was killed in the 2nd blast. The second gadget might have been set to damage those who turned up in response to the first.
Seven policemen were also injured, including Pol Lt Col Wasan Panphot, mouthpiece chief of Sungai Padi police, Pol Capt Sathaban Suwannakan, an EOD official from Border Patrol Police Company forty-four, as well as a civilian.
In Bangkok, Gen Kongcheep Tantrawanich, Defence Ministry speaker, said Prime Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Prayut Chan-o-cha was deeply saddened by loss of the army ranger and the accidents to the policemen plus villagers.
Gen Prayut purchased officials at the Internal Security Operations Order Region 4 Ahead Command to visit the scene and accept the situation under control as quickly as possible. He said all of the injured were taken to a nearby hospital and the family of the dead person may receive state help.