PATTANI -- The chairman of a tambon administration organisation (TAO) was killed by gunmen in Yaring district on Friday morning, police said.
Sama-ae Dolo, 63, chairman of Piya Mumang TAO, was driving his Toyota pickup truck from his house to work. Along the way he was followed by three armed hooded men in a Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck.
At the intersection of Pate village in tambon Piya Mumang, the truck pulled up alongside and the men opened fire at him with AK47 rifles. The attack occurred about 9.30am.
Witnesses told police that, before fleeing, one of the attackers walked over to the pickup, which had stalled to a halt, and opened the door to make sure Sama-ae was dead.
Investigators said Sama-ae was a former kamnan, or tambon chief, who resigned the position to run for the TAO and was elected about two years ago. He was said to be an influential figure in the district.