Authorities extend condolences on death of modeled Imam

BANGKOK, August 6 (TNA) - The southern outpost of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has extended condolences on Monday's murder of Imam Yacob Raimanee, a modeled Muslim religious leader in the violence-plagued Thai far South. Spokesman of the ISOC's southern outpost Colonel Pramote Prom-in held a press conference at the Sirindhorn military camp in Yarang district of Pattani province on Tuesday to extend the condolences to the family of Imam Yacob of the Pattani Central Mosque, who was shot dead by suspected insurgents at the Jabang Tikor market in Pattani's Muang district. The spokesman praised Imam Yacob for his modeled devotion to work and religious services, saying that it is the loss of an important person in the Thai deep South because Imam Yacob had always worked for public interests, observed religious principles well, supported peaceful solutions and disagreed with all violent means. The spokesman insisted that the ISOC's southern outpost is trying the best to arrest culprits in the case as soon as possible. Imam Yacob were earlier ambushed in 2010 and an official probe found that he had been shot with an HK33 assault rifle, the same gun used to kill a soldier at Pattani's 23rd ad hoc unit at the Taluboh bridge on January 4, 2013 and to later kill six villagers on May 1. The spokesman urged all parties to condemn all forms of violence in the southernmost Thai region. (TNA)