Police in Battambang province’s Samlot district began patrols on Thursday amid the search for four suspects sought in connection with two shootings in Chamlong Romeang Leu village, one of which resulted in the death of a village representative, government officials said. Pich Sophon, 60, who was shot and killed on Monday, had been witness to an earlier shooting thought to be carried out by the same four men on April 4, during which villager Sim Mey was wounded, said Eam Seng Eoun, Samlot district military police chief. “We are very sorry we could not protect our witness’s life,” he said. Samlot district Governor Hen Sophal said that 10 additional police had been dispatched to O’Samril commune on Thursday to help in the investigation. “We will not allow the killers to live outside the law,” he said. Pich Sophon had been instrumental in advocating on behalf of 141 families involved in three land disputes dating back to 2007 that pitted villagers against military officials and an unidentified Korean company, said Yen Mengly, a coordinator for the rights group Adhoc. He said the police presence would help to maintain peace.