Four Bodies With Gunshot Wounds Found In Narathiwat

By Tuwaedaniya Meringing

NARATHIWAT (Thailand), Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Thai police confirmed that the bodies of four men were found in two locations in Narathiwat, southern Thailand.

Weng District Police Chief Colonel Chalong Leknoi said all four bodies had multiple gunshot wounds. He said three of the bodies were found in the boot of a car in a lake in Kampung Cherang, Weng, Narathiwat, at about 6pm (local time) Tuesday while one body was found by the public at about 6.30am (local time). Wednesday.

"Preliminary investigations found that these two cases are related. The police have identified 10 suspects involved in these two cases," he told reporters here Wednesday.

Chalong said the police will intensify the investigation, including examination of CCTV footage, to track down the suspects involved.

"An autopsy to identify the cause of death and the identity of the four bodies will be conducted at the Songklanagarind Hospital," he said.

The motive for the murder is still under investigation.

Chalong said members of the public lodged a police report upon finding a car in the lake at about 6 pm (local time) Tuesday.

"Police investigated and found three bodies of men in the boot of the car. The three shirtless bodies with gunshot wounds are believed to have died about three days ago.

"Initial police investigations found that the three victims were killed and their bodies were stuffed in the boot of a car before being downed in the lake," he said.

He said the three victims, aged between 19 and 38 years old from Sungai Kolok and Sukhirin, Narathiwat, had gunshot wounds on the chest and head.

"The investigation also found that the 27- and 38-year-old victims were involved in drug syndicates and had several criminal records," he said.

In the second incident, Chalong said members of the public found the body of a man with gunshot wounds stuck in a rock crevice in a river near Kampung Air Pasir in Weng District, Narathiwat, at about 6.30 am (local time) Wednesday.

"A 35-year-old local man was reported missing four days ago," he said.

-- BERNAMA