In Narathiwat, perpetrators covertly set fire to CCTV cameras installed on roadside utility poles across three districts in one night, causing dozens of cameras to become inoperable. The Provincial Police Commander of Narathiwat ordered increased security by establishing checkpoints to inspect vehicles and individuals traveling near important locations.
At 19:40 on 4 March 2026, Pol. Col. Wirasak Pearsale, Chief of Chanae Police Station in Narathiwat, received reports from residents of arson attacks on CCTV cameras installed on roadside utility poles at three locations, resulting in damage to 10 cameras. The incidents occurred in Village No. 2, Chanae Subdistrict: Point 1 near the fence of Ban Chanae School, where three Ministry of Interior cameras and two Chanae Police Station cameras were damaged.
Point 2 was at the intersection leading to Tue Ko Village, where two Ministry of Interior CCTV cameras were damaged.
Point 3 was at the intersection leading to Bue Tae Village, where three Ministry of Interior CCTV cameras were damaged. Police and military personnel were dispatched to investigate.
At the scene, fires were burning the CCTV cameras and spreading to the electrical wiring on the utility poles, causing damage. Authorities secured the area before coordinating with relevant agencies to inspect the scene the following morning.
Later, Pol. Col. Wirasak ordered an inspection of the CCTV cameras on utility poles near the three incident sites and discovered that a Ministry of Interior camera on the pole next to the one damaged at the Tue Ko Village intersection recorded the suspects' behavior: six individuals riding three motorcycles stopped at a nearby intersection.
Four suspects positioned themselves to cover the front and rear while two others carried approximately 3-meter-long wooden sticks wrapped with fuel-soaked cloth. They placed these on top of the CCTV camera box, then ignited the cloth using the sticks. Once the fire caught, all six suspects fled on their motorcycles in different directions.
Authorities are reviewing footage from other CCTV cameras on roadside utility poles to track the suspects' escape routes to pursue legal action against them.
Additionally, in Ra-ngae District last night, perpetrators set fire to car tires at two locations: one at Ban Thamnop Village No. 1, Chalerm Subdistrict, and another on Ban Bago Asa Road, Village No. 6, Chalerm Subdistrict. The fires burned out with no property damage, and traffic flow remained normal.
However, incidents also occurred in Si Sakhon District between 20:00 and 01:40, where suspects separately set fire to CCTV cameras and cut electrical wires at 14 locations, disabling 28 cameras across two subdistricts: Si Sakhon and Sri Banphot.
Specifically, suspects cut electrical wires at 10 sites, disabling 20 cameras in areas including the Batu Kate Intersection Village No. 1, Si Sakhon Subdistrict; Suku Pa Intersection Villages No. 8, Si Sakhon Subdistrict; Ino Intersection Village No. 8, Si Sakhon; Iryang Intersection Village No. 3, Si Sakhon; in front of the Health Promotion Hospital at Iryang Village No. 3, Si Sakhon; Irjujo Intersection Village No. 7, Si Sakhon; Pahan Village No. 4, Si Sakhon; Irkeunoh Intersection Village No. 5, Sri Banphot Subdistrict; and Lateo Pinai Intersection Village No. 2, Sri Banphot.
Meanwhile, suspects set fire to CCTV cameras at four locations, damaging eight cameras at Suku Noh Intersection Village No. 5, Sri Banphot; Suku De Intersection Village No. 4, Sri Banphot; Kue Ro Fish Bridge Intersection Village No. 1, Sri Banphot; and Irbuekae Intersection Village No. 9, Si Sakhon.
During these events, Pol. Maj. Gen. Prayong Kotsakha, Provincial Police Commander of Narathiwat, ordered all 15 police station commanders in the province's 13 districts to intensify security by establishing checkpoints to inspect vehicles and individuals near key sites and vulnerable bases. This aims to prevent further incidents and enable swift response to threats, minimizing potential losses.