A police team in a pick-up truck was chasing a suspicious Nissan sedan that failed to comply to a drug search when they fired warning shots skywards for the sedan driver to pull over at Tambon Juap of Jor I Rong district.

However, patrolling rangers in the area mistook the police for insurgents and opened fire on them.

Volunteer Aman Lateh died from his injuries while Pol Sergeant Major Chaowalit Chupheuk suffered a bullet wound to his chest and Pol Corporal Watchara Saengsurin suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder. The driver of the sedan escaped.

Narathiwat Special Task Force deputy chief Colomel Paisal Noosang said officers would aid the families of the injured and the deceased fully.

To prevent a recurrence of the incident, agencies will now be required to notify officers on the ground of operations or ongoing pursuits, he said.