YALA, Thailand – Police said Thursday (April 3rd) that assault rifles used in the murder of a village chief and two of his deputies the day before in Bannang Sata were previously used in insurgent attacks, local media reported.

Yala Provincial Police Commander Songkiat Watakul said 50 spent cartridges from five M16 assault rifles and an HK33 were collected from the scene, The Bangkok Post reported. Three of the M16s had been used in four incidents in Krong Pinang and Yaha districts, Songkiat added.

Security forces believe the gruesome murders-- in which one victim was beheaded-- were perpetrated by Hubaideelah Rommualee, an insurgent commander active in Krong Pinanag, Yaha and Bannang Sata, and his subordinate identified as Arbe jae Alee.

Meanwhile, The Nation reported there were 53 insurgency-related attacks in March, resulting in 33 deaths and 38 others injured. Pattani witnessed 23 attacks, Narathiwat 16, Yala 12 and Songkhla two.