YALA, March 12 (TNA) –  The superintendent of Yala's Bunnang Sata district police station was  pronounced dead at hospital after being severely wounded in a bombing and shooting ambush in Yala.

Pol Col Sompien Eksomya, sent to hospital after being severely wounded in a bombing and shooting attack on Friday afternoon on his routine patrol duty. Three other police officers accompanying him in a pickup were also wounded and remain in hospital.

The roadside bomb destroyed the vehicle and caused one metre deep hole.
 
Songkhla native Col Sompien was known as the “Fighter at Budo Mountain” and “Iron Leg” as most of his patrols were carried out on foot. However, he earlier sought transfer out of the area to Trang province before his retirement this year after 40 years in service.

His request was rejected and he travelled to ask for justice at Government House making a national news headline.

Col Sompien had worked in the violence-affected areas in the southern border provinces for more than 20 years and he was famous for fighting insurgents without fear as well as carrying out the police public relations strategies to reach local people.

He was promoted from non-commissioned to commissioned officer after his prominent work to suppress insurgency. (TNA)