Narathiwat – Authorities combined forces to investigate an ambush shooting that killed the District Chief of Ja Nae along with a woman passenger. It is believed the attackers operated in two groups: one lying in wait in a fruit orchard and another riding motorcycles in pursuit. The assailants brutally surrounded and fired at the vehicle until it was riddled with bullet holes. Four types of shell casings, totaling 68, littered the scene. They also stole an official M16 rifle before fleeing.
The case involves attackers ambushing and shooting Mr. Monchai Chitkamolkarn, the District Chief and head of security operations in Ja Nae District (Special Administrative Officer), and Ms. Haida Buraheing, 27 years old, who both died inside a black Toyota four-door pickup truck, license plate งข 3275 Songkhla. The incident occurred on a village road in Su Khae Village, Moo 3, Dusongyo Subdistrict, Ja Nae District, Narathiwat, at 01:00 today, as previously reported.
The latest update at 09:30 on 1 April 2026: The bomb disposal unit from the Narathiwat Provincial Police, forensic officials, and related authorities jointly inspected the scene, which was the pickup truck of Mr. Monchai parked by the roadside in front of Ms. Haida’s residence at number 117, Moo 3, Dusongyo Subdistrict. They found bullet trajectories on three sides of the truck — left, right, and rear — with the vehicle’s body perforated by gunfire.
At the scene, officials recovered four types of shell casings: three 11mm rounds, 17 nine-millimeter rounds, four M16 rounds, and 38 AK rounds, totaling 68 casings. Additionally, six intact bullets of various calibers were found and collected as evidence.
Upon interviewing Mr. Haseang Buraheing, father of the deceased Ms. Haida, it was learned that Mr. Monchai had driven to pick up his daughter around 20:00 to run errands and returned to drop her off around 00:30, parking the vehicle on the road in front of the house. Then, Mr. Haseang heard multiple gunshots lasting nearly five minutes. When the gunfire ceased, he went outside and found the pickup truck riddled with bullets. Upon opening the door, he discovered both Mr. Monchai and his daughter had been fatally shot, and he immediately alerted authorities.
Based on the assessment, authorities believe the attackers operated in two groups: the first lying in ambush within a local fruit orchard opposite Ms. Haida’s house, and the second group likely following on motorcycles. The two groups comprised at least four individuals. When Mr. Monchai parked to drop off Ms. Haida at her home, the attackers hidden in the orchard emerged, surrounded the vehicle, and opened fire on the two victims. After confirming their deaths, the assailants opened the truck door, took an official M16 rifle that Mr. Monchai had left on the back seat, and fled.
Authorities are considering two main motives for the incident: first, security-related issues, as Mr. Monchai frequently traveled the route to visit his girlfriend; second, possible personal conflicts involving Ms. Haida and Mr. Monchai with other individuals. However, officials are giving more weight to security concerns.