Armed men disguised as soldiers raid Yala villages, steal firearms

Armed men disguised as soldiers and rangers executed a series of robberies targeting village headmen and defence volunteers in Yala‘s southern border province last night, making off with several firearms.

Around 8.30pm, July 9, approximately 10 armed men with covered faces, dressed like soldiers, stormed a defence volunteer station in Ban Krong Pinang, Krong Pinang district. They seized a shotgun and two pistols.

An hour later, at 9.30pm, another group of seven similarly dressed armed men arrived at a security booth in Ban Kue Tay village, Yaha district. They took two shotguns, a 9mm pistol, and a communications radio.

By 10.30pm, a larger group of 17 armed men, disguised as paramilitary rangers, raided the house of the Ban Nam Yen village headman in Mueang district, stealing a shotgun.

Just 15 minutes after that incident, 10 armed men, also dressed like paramilitary rangers, attempted a similar robbery at Ban Mor village in Mueang district. However, defence volunteers managed to fend off the attackers in a gunfight, reported Bangkok Post.

Security sources suggested that these coordinated robberies might be in retaliation for recent raids and arrests of numerous security suspects by the police. The perpetrators appeared focused on stealing weapons and did not aim to harm anyone.

In related news, a group of armed men sparked terror in Yala‘s Bannang Sata district when they targeted a pickup truck carrying border patrol police officers. The terrifying incident, which occurred on January 10, resulted in two officers being seriously wounded and caused locals to flee the scene in panic.

The assault took place in broad daylight outside a local grocery store in Buesu village. The unsuspecting officers had parked their vehicle to shop when they were ambushed.

Two of the officers, Police Corporal Thanakit Jaihao and Police Corporal Watchara Mayachieo, sustained severe injuries in the attack. Thanakit was shot in the right ear, while Watchara was struck by bullets in his right shoulder and left arm.