Colonel Hanpol Phetchmoung, commander of the 43rd paramilitary regiment, and Colonel Pasit Chanlekha, commander of the 46th paramilitary regiment, led 24 armed rangers to search a house in Ban Uyi, Tambon Laloh, where suspected insurgents including Abdul-asae Sika – wanted for at least five national security cases – may have been hiding.

As officers surrounded the house, two men inside opened fire with M16 and AK-47 rifles in an apparent bid to get away. This resulted in several sessions of short gunfire.

Deputy head of the Fourth Army Region Major General Chinnawat Maendech and Narathiwat Taskforce chief Colonel Ekarat Changkaew hurried to the scene along with police to observe the stand-off, while relatives of the suspects and local religious leaders were also on hand to negotiate for their surrender.

After three hours of talks that failed to yield any result, and the suspects reportedly still shooting, officers decided to storm the building. This ended with the two suspects being killed. The deceased were identified as Abdul-asae and another man named Ali Sulong – both allegedly Runda Kumpulan Kecil operatives. Officers also seized an M16 rifle and an AK-47 rifle from the scene.

It was also reported that, following the clash, officers also brought several people into custody for questioning.

The two officers who were slightly wounded in the clash were identified as Sergeant Kampol Wisit and Sergeant Sabidi Bula.

The operation was part of the authorities’ response to the March 13 seizure of Cho Airong Hospital by insurgents, who used it as a base to attack Rangers Company 4816.