Thailand defends yesterday's Yala shooting incident

Thai authorities were forced to use aggression to apprehend a man at Kampung Piye, Raman in Yala yesterday as he was believed to be a very dangerous suspect.

Thailand's Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Division 4 assistant spokesman, Yuthanam Pechmuang said Lukman Matding was armed and facing five warrants of arrest related to security.

"The security team was forced to defend itself after the suspect let out a shot and flung a hand grenade," he told a media conference at Sirinthorn Camp here.

He said a 9mm was also found next to the suspect's body.

Thai security forces claimed that Lukman was a member of Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK), a militant group that is active in the country's troubled south.

Yuthanam held the media conference to respond to criticisms from media social users who alleged that the authorities had used excessive force in the operation to capture Lukman which ended in his death.

In the incident yesterday, more than 100 Thai security force personnel surrounded the house where Lukman was hiding before advancing and wreaking havoc on the building.

Yuthanam said the owners of the house, a married couple had also been detained for harbouring the suspect and could be punished with two years imprisonment if found guilty.

-- BERNAMA