Saba yoi: Officials clashed with insurgents again this morning on a hill in Village No. 7, Khuha Subdistrict, Saba Yoi District, Songkhla Province, after a continued cordon off the area. It has been confirmed that one insurgent has died.
According to Thai News Agency, the sound of gunfire reverberated on a hill in Village No. 7, Khuha Subdistrict, Saba Yoi District, Songkhla Province, at 6:00 a.m. This marks the third round of gunfire after officials surrounded and pressured the insurgents and continued their pursuit of the insurgents on the hillside, which has been ongoing since yesterday. The latest gunfire this morning was approximately 200 meters from the site of yesterday's gunfire. It has been confirmed that one insurgent has died.
The initial clash occurred at Ban Huai Tao, Village No. 7, Khuha Subdistrict, Saba Yoi District. Officials found a group of insurgents hiding in the forest and fired at the officials, leading to the first clash at 5:30 a.m. The officials pressed on until the insurgents fled into the forest. A second clash occurred at 11:35 a.m. yesterday. The gunfire was so loud that villagers in the vicinity about 2 kilometers away could hear it clearly.
After the second round of fighting ended, officials cleared the area and found the backpacks the perpetrators had abandoned and a long trail of blood. They believe the perpetrators were shot and injured and attempted to escape up the mountain. Officials cordoned off the area for the safety of the villagers and increased their forces to hunt down the perpetrators on the hillside. This led to the latest clash this morning, where the body of one perpetrator has been found. They are working to determine who the perpetrator is, including DNA testing of the bloodstains at the scene and other evidence obtained from the scene.
Initially, officials believe the perpetrators are the group of Mr. Koseng Lateyama, who has over seven arrest warrants out for him, and Mr. Usni Yikasem, who has one warrant out for him, related to the unrest in Pattani Province. Approximately four or five of them are hiding out and preparing to cause unrest in Saba Yoi District.