THREE inmates were killed and 10 others were injured in a riot involving about 200 prisoners at Pattani Central Prison that started late on Friday afternoon and took until early the following morning to be finally brought under control.

A committee was set up to investigate the incident, including the involvement of inmates from Narathiwat like a previous riot in Pattani Central Prison in 2011, the prison’s director Nopporn Rattanawai told a press conference yesterday.

The riot started at about 4.30pm. And after several failed negotiation attempts, during which inmates submitted more than 10 demands, a security team stormed the prison at about 11pm. But the situation was not brought under control until about 2am, he said.

Nopporn said two convicts – one jailed for attempted murder and the other for theft and who participated in a Songkhla Prison riot in 1995 – allegedly started the riot out of dissatisfaction over strict rules and their upcoming transfers to Songkhla Prison.

He said they were joined by former Narathiwat Prison inmates. The inmates reportedly tried to attack five guards but some convicts jailed for national security offences convinced them to release the guards.

The rioters made demands while smashing up the multipurpose building and setting fire to two buildings – one used for operations and the other for education and vocational training.

An informed source reported that the inmates’ demands included prisoners not being transferred to other facilities; inmates not being punished so severely; allowing spouses to visit once a week; and a pardon for the rioters. They also asked for Nopporn to be transferred along with seven other prison officials and for the previous head of prison guards to be reinstated.

Nopporn said seven injured inmates were hospitalised and one of them, Su-anan Pongchao, died from a stab wound to the stomach.

He said two inmates – Kiattisak Janduang and Serm Jansunthorn – were believed to have been killed by others in the jail. Three or four officials were slightly injured, he added.

Nopporn said following the riot 333 inmates were temporarily transferred to four Songkhla prisons to reduce crowded conditions and allow better control.

Some 800 relatives went to Pattani Central Prison yesterday morning but were not allowed to enter it.

Justice permanent secretary Chanchao Chaiyanukit flew to the South yesterday afternoon to inspect the situation firsthand. He urged officials to thoroughly investigate the incident and find out why other inmates easily joined the two instigators.

He also urged officials to explain to relatives that the transfer of the 333 inmates was not because they were involved in the riot.

Corrections Department chief Patikhom Wongsuwan said in a statement that the duo who started the riot had been angry over strict rules in cell searches. In response, he said the prison director had asked for them to be urgently transferred, so they sparked the riot.

Forensic police inspected the scene yesterday and 1,400 police from nearby provinces were dispatched to aid the guarding of the prison.

Colonel Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the International Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command, said rioting inmates were represented by Muhammad-Anwa Hayiteh, who was convicted of racketeering and jailed for 12 years in May 2013, in negotiations with officials.

Pramote said legal action would be taken against the rioters.

Muhammad-Anwa reportedly co-founded an alternative news agency, Bunga Raya News, and participated in a movement calling for improved human rights and liberty in the South prior to his imprisonment.