Thailand: Suspected Muslim insurgent kills school teacher

The gunman disguised himself in a student uniform, entered the fourth grade classroom and killed Prasarn Martchu, a 46-year-old Buddhist teacher, while he was teaching at a public school in Narathiwat's Rue So district, said police Col. Banlue Chawej.

Photo: Thailand: Suspected Muslim insurgent kills school teacher

Thailand: Suspected Muslim insurgent kills school teacher

The primary school, which has 11 teachers and about 250 students, was temporarily closed after the shooting, police said. Prasarn had worked at the school for more than 20 years.

Prasarn is the 44th teacher to have been killed by suspected Muslim militants since 2004, said Sanguan Jintarat, head of the Narathiwat Teachers' Association, the AP reports.

Public school teachers, seen by insurgents as tools of the government, have been a prime target of violent attacks. The military and police have provided security escorts for them as they travel to and from schools.