Two suspected insurgents shot one man dead and set fire to his pickup truck in Panareh district of Pattani province in Thailand’s deep south.
The man, simply identified as “Nafee,” and his wife were on their way home from dropping their children off at school.

A motorbike approached thier pickup from the driver’s side. The pillion passenger shot Nafee multiple times.

As he died, Nafee managed to drive the truck for a little distance until it came to a halt on the road. The gunman then approached the vehicle, forcing the victim’s wife to exit before pouring petrol on the truck and setting it on fire.

Meanwhile, a non-commissioned officer died in Hat Yai hospital after being critically injured in an explosion during a firefight with rebels in a rubber plantation in the southern province of Pattani on Saturday.

According to Thai PBS, Sgt-Maj Thanasak Buakhao lost both legs in a landmine explosion while his squad was attempting to drive out an unknown number of militants holed up in the rubber plantation in Ban Klong Chang, Khok Pho district, yesterday.

The explosion injured three officers, including Thanasak, but the other two received minor injuries.

Security personnel are entering the rubber plantation today to look for the militants, while other units are stationed along the insurgents’ probable escape routes. There have been no reported conflicts today.

For decades, insurgency has plagued Thailand’s deep south. Muslim separatists are fighting the Thai government over ethnic and religious differences.

Violence, explosions, and shootings disrupt daily life in provinces such as Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Civilians are frequently caught in the crossfire, creating a sense of fear and instability.

The Thai government has tried a variety of measures, including military crackdowns and peace talks, but the problem remains unresolved. The international world pays close attention, concerned about human rights violations and the growth of extremism.