A Muslim man was shot dead and another severely injured by assailants in Narathiwat’s Rangae district early on Saturday.
Pol Colonel Surapong Chartsut, commander of the Rangae police station, said the shooting happened at a teashop in Moo 3 village in Tambon Chalerm at 2.25am. Restaurants and teashops remain open in the region throughout the night during Ramadan month. Chartsut said a patron, Mahamasuekree Leetaleh 57, was killed by a stray bullet when attackers fired at the shop owner, Yalaning Samae, 32. Mahamasuekree was hit once in his left chest and died at the scene. Yalaning was hit in his right chest and his left leg.
Chartsut said Yalaning was attacked while sitting in his home next to the shop. After being hit in his left leg, he fled to the teashop to seek help from the four patrons there. Chartsut said a gunman chased after Yalaning to the shop and opened fire with an AK47 assault rifle, and a stray bullet hit Mahamasuekree. Yalaning then fired back at the attacker with his 9mm pistol, causing him to flee the scene. Chartsut said Yalaning had been fired from the post of defence volunteer because he was suspected of being involved in drug trafficking. Yalaning and Mahamasuekree were rushed to Rangae District Hospital. Yalaning was later forwarded to Narathiwat Hospital, while Mahamasuekree will undergo an autopsy at Rangae District Hospital. Police have yet to investigate the motive for the attack. NP -EP
