A B-40 rocket was shot into a district police chief’s car in Banteay Meanchey province late Friday, killing a man and critically injuring a woman. The shooting occurred only minutes after a grenade attack on the O’Chrou district office, officials said Sunday.
No one was injured in the grenade attack, but the rocket killed militiaman Din Rithy, 41, who was stationed near the scene of the blast, and seriously wounded his wife Srey Pov, 38.
At about 11 pm Friday, a group of unidentified men lobbed a grenade into the district headquarters, causing little damage, said Banteay Meanchey provincial police chief At Khem.
Organizing a search for the perpetrators, O’Chrou district police Chief Nuth Ly said he drove to the scene, pausing at a militia post at Mittapheap market, in the district’s Poipet commune, where Din Rithy was stationed.
Nuth Ly was still in the driver’s seat of his Toyota Camry when the B-40 rocket hit his car, destroying it and killing Din Rithy, he said.
Srey Pov was brought to Mongkol Borey district hospital and remains there in critical condition.
“The offenders wished to kill me by shooting a B-40 rocket,” Nuth Ly said, adding that he got away unharmed.
He said he suspected the attacks were revenge for his having cracked several crime rings.
“Recently, I have cracked down on many gang groups in town, especially drug smuggling,” he said.
Banteay Meanchey military police Chief Roth Sreng and O’Chrou district Governor Keo Sen said they believed the attackers lobbed the grenade in order to set up an ambush on Nuth Ly.
“They made chaos for the police, then hid to shoot Nuth Ly with the B-40 rocket. Their aim was to kill the district police chief,” Roth Sreng said. At least three people were involved in the two attacks, he added.
Provincial police Chief At Khem said police did not believe the attack involved any organized armed group.
“It is no problem. It is a small case,” he said.
