On the night of February 19, 2025, two police officers in Yarang, Pattani Province, were ambushed and killed while on patrol. The attackers, armed with military-grade weapons, also stole the officers’ service handguns before fleeing the scene. The incident is believed to be the work of local insurgents seeking to demonstrate their power and create unrest in the region.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. on February 19, 2025, authorities were alerted to a shooting in an unnamed alley in Village No. 3, Yarang Subdistrict. Second Lieutenant Thaksaset Benchamarak of Yarang Police Station, upon receiving the call, immediately informed Police Colonel Warin Wanthongchai, the station’s superintendent, and led a team to the site. Upon arrival, they discovered one officer had been fatally shot, and another was seriously injured. Both officers were promptly transported to Yarang Hospital.
The deceased officers were identified as Pol. Sgt. Decha Kiewkaew, 35, and Pol. Sgt. Songchai Chanthraphap, 23. Kiewkaew suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while Chanthraphap, despite doctors’ efforts, succumbed to his injuries. Both officers were found in uniform, wearing bulletproof vests and helmets, with over 10 bullet casings at the scene. Their Honda motorcycle, registered in Pattani, was also found nearby.
Initial investigations revealed that the two officers had just completed setting up a checkpoint when they received a report of suspicious movement in the area. As they approached an alley suspected to be frequented by local youth, they were ambushed by an unknown number of attackers who fired multiple rounds, forcing the officers’ motorcycle off the road. The gunfire also damaged nearby homes. The assailants, assuming the officers were dead, stole their handguns and fled.
In the aftermath, Pattani Provincial Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Santhat Chuaphuttal ordered an extensive search of the area, including a 500-meter radius from the crime scene, and coordinated with neighboring units to monitor vehicles and suspicious individuals. Authorities suspect the attack was perpetrated by insurgent groups operating in the region, aiming to intimidate government forces and destabilize the area. The investigation continues, with officers examining CCTV footage and forensic evidence, particularly the bullet casings, to identify the perpetrators.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities remain vigilant as they piece together details from the attack.
