Narathiwat: CCTV footage reveals perpetrators burning CCTV cameras in Narathiwat province, with incidents reported in a single night across 24 locations in three districts.
According to Thai News Agency, at 7:40 PM on March 4, 2026, Pol. Col. Weerasak Persala, Superintendent of Chanae Police Station, Narathiwat Province, received a report from villagers that unknown assailants had set fire to CCTV cameras installed on utility poles along the road in three locations, damaging a total of 10 cameras. The incident occurred in Moo 2, Chanae Subdistrict: Location 1: Near the fence of Ban Chanae School, three CCTV cameras belonging to the Ministry of Interior were damaged, and two cameras belonging to Chanae Police Station were damaged. Location 2: At the intersection leading to Tuek Ko village, two CCTV cameras belonging to the Ministry of Interior were damaged. Location 3: At the intersection leading to Buetae village, three CCTV cameras belonging to the Ministry of Interior were damaged. A number of police and military personnel were dispatched to the scene. They found the CCTV cameras engulfed in flames, which had spread to the electrical wires on the poles, causing further damage. The area was cordoned off, and relevant authorities were contacted to conduct a thorough investigation the following morning.
Subsequently, Pol. Col. Weerasak, the superintendent of Chanae Police Station, ordered officers to examine CCTV cameras installed on utility poles in the vicinity of the incident at all three locations. They discovered a CCTV camera belonging to the Ministry of Interior, installed on the next utility pole from the incident site at the intersection leading to Tuek Ko village, which recorded the perpetrators' actions. The footage showed six suspects arriving on three motorcycles and parking at the intersection. Four suspects stood guard at the front and back of the motorcycles, while two others separated, each carrying a long wooden stick (approximately 3 meters long) made of rags soaked in fuel. They placed this stick on top of the CCTV camera's enclosure, ignited the fuel, and then used it to set the rags on fire. Once they were sure the fire was lit, all six suspects fled in different directions on their motorcycles. Officers will now review CCTV footage from other utility poles along the road to trace the s uspects' escape route in order to apprehend and prosecute them according to the law.
Additionally, in the Ra-ngae district, during the past night, perpetrators secretly set fire to car tires in the middle of the road at two locations: the first at Ban Thamnop, Moo 1, Chaloem Subdistrict, and the second on the road at Ban Bang-o-asae, Moo 6, Chaloem Subdistrict. At both locations, the tires were completely burned out, and people were able to use the roads normally without any property damage.
However, incidents still occurred in the Sri Sakhon district between 8:00 PM and 1:40 AM. A group of perpetrators dispersed to set fire to CCTV cameras and cut power lines at 14 locations, rendering 28 CCTV cameras inoperable in two sub-districts: Sri Sakhon and Sri Banphot.
The incident involved perpetrators cutting electrical wires, resulting in damage that rendered 20 CCTV cameras unusable at 10 locations. These locations included: the intersection of Ban Batukatoh, Moo 1, Sri Sakhon Subdistrict; the intersection of Ban Skupa, Moo 8, Sri Sakhon Subdistrict; the intersection of Ban Skupa, Moo 8, Sri Sakhon Subdistrict; the intersection of Ban Ino, Moo 8, Sri Sakhon Subdistrict; the intersection of Ban Air Yaeng, Moo 3, Sri Sakhon Subdistrict; in front of the Ban Air Yaeng Health Promotion Hospital, Moo 3, Sri Sakhon Subdistrict; the intersection of Ban Air Chujoh, Moo 7, Sri Sakhon Subdistrict; Ban Panan, Moo 4, Sri Sakhon Subdistrict; the intersection of Ban Air Kueno, Moo 5, Sri Banphot Subdistrict; and the intersection of Ban La Toh Pinae, Moo 2, Sri Banphot Subdistrict.
The perpetrators set fire to eight CCTV cameras at four locations, including the intersection of Ban Air Kue Noe, Moo 5, Sri Banphot Subdistrict; the intersection of Ban Air Kue De, Moo 4, Sri Banphot Subdistrict; the Saphan Pla Kue Rae intersection, Moo 1, Sri Banphot Subdistrict; and the intersection of Ban Air Bue Kae, Moo 9, Sri Sakhon Subdistrict.
During the incident, Pol. Maj. Gen. Prayong Kotrasakha, Commander of the Narathiwat Provincial Police, ordered the superintendents and inspectors of all 15 police stations in the 13 districts to increase the intensity of checkpoints and roadblocks, and to inspect vehicles and individuals traveling to important locations, including operational bases located in vulnerable areas. This was to prevent potential attacks and to be able to respond promptly to the perpetrators, thereby preventing potential losses.