NARATHIWAT, THAILAND – Two cops shot dead in Tak Bai as a gunman in only tracksuit pants flees into a palm oil plantation.
The attack happened on the morning of August 2. An investigation unit from Tak Bai police station was working in a plantation near Phrai Wan local administration office. At 11:48, a suspect opened fire.
Gunman wore only tracksuit bottoms
The shooter was not wearing a shirt. He had only a pair of training pants and carried a long rifle.
He fled immediately after the attack. Authorities said he knows the area very well.
Local knowledge gives him the edge
His familiarity with the terrain gave him a head start on the run. He used the dense, confusing plantation to his advantage.
The exact direction he escaped in remained unclear. Police launched a massive search operation at once.
District chief orders full lockdown
Grisada Suksabai, Tak Bai district chief and head of the local emergency centre, acted fast. He ordered a complete seal-off of the area.
Checkpoints were set up in every direction. The goal was to cut off the fugitive’s escape routes.
Roads closed, public safety first
Surrounding roads were closed to all traffic. Authorities said it was for public safety.
The move also gave security forces a clear path for the pursuit until the situation is resolved.
Police, military and civilian forces join hunt
Under the operations centre, resources from police, military and civil administration were pooled together. The massive search focused on Moo 6 in Phrai Wan subdistrict.
The manhunt for the armed suspect continued into the afternoon. Authorities zeroed in on catching the perpetrator and eliminating any further danger.