KUALA LUMPUR – Due to a bombing and shooting incident at a village in Ra-ngae, Narathiwat, Thailand, last Thursday, Malaysian police and armed forces will be ramping up border patrols to prevent the 15 men involved in the disturbance from entering the country.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said he does not discount the fact that the group of men will try to infiltrate the border using existing rat trails.
He said police will work with the armed forces to prepare for any possibility via the ongoing Op Benteng.
“I am confident that the powers given to the army will make border controls in the country stronger,” Hamid said, as reported by Utusan Malaysia.
“Now, the armed forces can detain any individual or group who commits offences in areas under Op Benteng at the country’s borders.”
Last Thursday, Thai media had reported that two ranger personnel died and one suffered serious injury after a pipe bomb exploded and shooting ensued at a village in Ra-ngae.
In the 6.50am incident, 16 rangers, who were resting in a tent after patrol duties, were startled when they heard numerous explosions.
A group of men then hurled another homemade pipe bomb and fired live rounds at the tent.
The firefight lasted a good five minutes before the attackers made a break for it by bolting from the area.
One ranger died at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries at a hospital. – The Vibes, February 27, 2021
