HUNDREDS of Muslim religious leaders came together yesterday to pray for the restoration of the morale of patients and health professionals at Joh I Rong Hospital, which was rocked by an insurgent attack on Sunday.

About 50 heavily armed insurgents stormed the Narathiwat-based hospital and used it as a base to launch attacks on an adjacent military base three days ago. Although the incident did not result in any fatalities, the shock has had a psychological effect on witnesses.

Marorning Jehwoh, the chairman of the Joh I Rong Imam Club, joined about 500 religious leaders visiting patients and medical staff at Joh I Rong Hospital yesterday, contributing to a warm atmosphere in the aftermath of the attacks.

Marorning also led Islamic leaders in a prayer to dispel bad luck and to bless people at the hospital.

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Also present during the event were Narathiwat’s public health chief Dr Sommai Boonkliang and Joh I Rong Hospital’s director Dr Boonrat Praphanwong.

“Hospital staff have regained their morale. We are ready to serve the people,” Boonrat said.

An informed source said five suspects had been detained in connection with the hospital raid. They were found in possession of materials that could be used for bomb-making such as compressors. While the situation has improved at Joh I Rong Hospital, tensions have continued to spread across the southernmost region.

Dr Utissak Harirattanakul, the public health chief of nearby Yala province, said yesterday that he had instructed all sub-district hospitals to strengthen security measures.

He said gates should be closed at night and hospitals were required to have properly functioning CCTV systems at all times. “We will need to be stricter about checking vehicles coming into the hospital compound. Hospitals may also have to work more closely with village-defence volunteers and administrative officials in keeping watch,” he said.

Meanwhile, Colonel Yuttanam Petchmuang – a deputy spokesman for the Forward Command of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 – said yesterday security officials had launched a hunt for the insurgents who raided the hospital.

“We believe that they are now on the Tawe Mountain Range,” he said.

A source said intelligence reports suggested that insurgents were preparing to carry out more attacks in the deep South. “We have received reports that about seven people have moved into an area along the Songkhla-Yala border with guns,” the source said. Moreover, there are reports that another insurgent group has transported explosives to Yala’s Yaha district and plans to attack officials travelling along Highway 4065.

Yesterday, a bomb exploded in Narathiwat’s Rusoh district, damaging four houses but there were no casualties. Police suspected that bombers might have planned the bombing to disrupt a memorial for the late deputy superintendent of Rusoh Police Station, Pol Maj-General Jakkrit Wongprommet, but failed to gain access to the event, which took place at the Kanchanaphisek Park.

“So, they might have decided to plant the bomb in front of a local house instead,” a police source said.