Shooting and killing
Three Burmese were killed and five others wounded when soldiers opened fire at a pick-up truck loaded with workers being smuggled into the country in Ranong province on Thursday morning, police said.
Pol Lt-Col Pichit Sunthorn, a duty officer of Pak Nam police station in Ranong’s Muang district, said soldiers of a task force company of the 25th Infantry Regiment, who were in another vehicle, tried to stop the smuggglers‘ vehicle, which was carrying illegal workers from Kawthaung province in Burma.
The vehicle, which was heading towards them, failed to stop and the troops opened fire. The truck was forced to a stop after three of its tyres were shot out. Seventeen bullet holes were found on the body of the truck.
Inside the vehicle they found 13 Burmese workers. Three of them, two men and a woman, were dead and five others suffered bullet wounds. The injured were taken to Ranong Hospital.
Supot Mongkoltangsirikul, 35, the driver of the truck, said he had been paid 500 baht per trip to take the workers to Ranong Thani Housing Estate in Ranong.
Pol Col Veerasin Kwanseng, chief of the Pak Nam police station, said Mr Supot was charged with smuggling of alien workers.
The soldiers were initially charged over the three deaths. However, since they were performing their duty, the provincial prosecution would further investigate and decide how to proceed with the case, he said.
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