Police Kill Two Suspects in Narathiwat Gun Battle
Police killed two suspects in a major operation in Narathiwas province after they allegedly shot an officer dead, recovering two stolen police rifles and continuing to hunt a third suspect.
On August 5, 2024, Police Commissioner Kittarat Pansetchr ordered Deputy Commissioner Samran Nualma to lead a major law enforcement operation in Sukhirin district, Narathiwat, targeting a violent armed group responsible for an August 2 ambush that killed and wounded Tak Bai police officers in a palm plantation. The suspects also fled with two service pistols.
Regional Police Commander Piyawat Chlemsri, working with security units and national police headquarters staff, surrounded the target area in Ban Nam Tok village at 2:00 a.m. When officers moved in, the armed suspects opened intense fire to escape, triggering a fierce firefight. Officers returned fire in strict accordance with legal procedures until gunfire ceased. Two suspects were killed: 23-year-old Abdulmukalees, wanted on theft and drug charges with forensic DNA linking him to the recovered weapon, and 34-year-old Samman, wanted for murder and theft. A third suspect remains at large.
Investigations revealed the pair fled through three provinces before being tracked to Sukhirin. Both stolen police weapons were fully recovered during the operation, and all officers involved were unharmed. Piyawat confirmed all procedures followed evidence and proper tactics. Regarding the separate August 2 checkpoint shooting in Rangae district, authorities have identified 14 people involved, questioned 11, and have two deaths confirmed with one person still being pursued—the driver who helped the two deceased suspects escape.
