Assailants kill 15 in Muslim-majority southern Thailand

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - At least 15 people were shot dead in an overnight assault when unknown gunmen launched a scathing armed attack on security deployment in southern Thailand, local media reported on Wednesday.

The incident took place in Muang district of an insurgency-hit Muslim-majority Yala province.

According to daily Bangkok Post, some 10 unknown gunmen attacked defense volunteer booth in Moo 5 village about 11.20 p.m. local time (1820GMT).

The report said that eleven of the volunteers and officials were shot dead on the spot while four others succumbed to their wounds later at the local health facility.

Three officials were under treatment while two defense volunteers escaped the attack.

The assailants took away the arms of the slain Thai forces.

To thwart any expected help to the security post, attackers brought down an electricity pole and cut down a tree to block the road while it set tyres on fire, the report said.

The government imposed martial law in three Muslim-majority provinces in southern Thailand -- Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala -- following deadly violences in 2004.

Since then, almost 13,000 residents have been arrested by the military, according to the Prey Network of Emergency Law (JASAD), a group advocating for victims of soldier violence in Pattani.