Military Region 4 Honors Three Slain Rangers in Ceremony
Three rangers killed in an attack on a Narathiwat checkpoint were honored in a water-sprinkling ceremony, with families receiving medals and over 535,000 baht in relief funds from the military leadership.
On July 23, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., Lieutenant General Nartip Poynak, Commander of Military Region 4 and Internal Security Operations Chief for the region, presided over a water-sprinkling ceremony at Wat Bang Nara in Narathiwat for three rangers of the 45th Ranger Regiment: Sergeant Major Thirayut Somakerd, 43; Corporal Wimol Daptong, 43; and Corporal Natthisit Kaewsenai, 34.
During the ceremony, Lieutenant General Nartip laid wreaths on behalf of Prime Minister Anuthин Charnvirakul, Defence Minister Anuluay Bunthammachoen, and Army Commander General Pana Khaewplodthukkot. He presented Bangrajachan medals, commendations, and initial relief funds totaling over 535,000 baht to the families of the deceased. Police Region 9 Commander, Narathiwat Governor Bunchio Homyamyen, military and police officers, and officials attended to express condolences before the bodies were transported for religious rites in their respective hometowns—Wat Panom in Surat Thani, Wat Champa in Surin, and Wat Manao Wan Aram Luang in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
The attack occurred when a gang of more than ten assailants dressed in black used a black Nissan pickup to assault the Buke Sami Municipal Checkpoint in Tan Yong Mas Subdistrict, Rangae District, Narathiwat, firing weapons and throwing pipe bombs at the position controlled by Ranger Company 4509. Five officials were killed on site and six civilians injured. Preliminary investigations suggest the attack was carried out by a violent group with links to multiple past significant cases, including shootings at police stations and military bases and the seizure of health stations as launching points for assaults on community protection operations.
