Military kill 2 suspected insurgents during raids at school in Deep South

Thai military reportedly killed two suspected insurgents and arrested three suspects during a raid at a school in Thailand’s restive Deep South. However, there are reports that another woman was also killed at the scene.

Nearly a hundred military officers surrounded an Islamic school in Mayo District in Pattani Province at around 3 am on Friday in an attempt to arrest suspects believed to be hiding in the school, according Wartani, a local media outlet based in the southern border province of Pattani.

Two military officers guarding the road close to the Islamic school during the crackdown on insurgent suspects on Friday morning (courtesy of Wartani) 

At around 8 am, military officers stormed into the school and exchanged fire with the alleged insurgent members. The skirmish lasted for about half an hour.

Ismail Hajiwacik, the editor of Wartani, told Prachatai that the authorities reported that two men were killed during the fight. However, he cited locals as reporting that another woman was also killed.

A military truck entering the village in Mayo District of Pattani Province on Friday morning (courtesy of Wartani)

“According to the report from the authorities, two men were killed, but I have heard from the villagers that one woman, who probably had nothing to do with the insurgents, was also killed,” said Ismail.

He added three people were arrested by the military and taken to an unknown location.

Villagers anxiously observing the violent confrontation between the military and the alleged insurgent group (courtesy of Wartani)

According to the Bangkok Post, however, only two men were killed during the operation, identified as Maruding Tahe and Pata Lateh. The Bangkok Post also named two of the men arrested as Abdulloh Salae and Sabree Jeha.   

The event drew a large crowd of villagers who gathered anxiously in front of the school to observe the event.

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