A para-military ranger was shot dead in Narathiwat province and four others were injured in a roadside IED explosion this morning, as insurgent violence escalates.


According to police and military reports, insurgents hidden in roadside bushes opened fire at a group of six rangers as they were returning to their base in Rueso district of Narathiwat, after they had completed a mission to provide protection to an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit sent to inspect a motorcycle damaged by an explosion last night.


The ambush took place about 200 metres from the base.


In another incident, four rangers were injured in Panare district of Pattani, when their pick-up truck was hit by a roadside improvised explosive device (IED).

Ranger killed, four injured in Narathiwat and Pattani