PATTANI - A local leader was shot dead in full view of many villagers at a tea shop in Yaring district on Saturday morning.
The shooting occurred at the shop in tambon Takae at around 8am, said Pol Col Theera Iedchata, a duty investigation chief at Yaring police station.
Abdulloh Seedeh, 56, kamnan of tambon Takae, was drinking tea with other local residents when he was attacked by a group of four men on board a pickup truck, witnesses told police.
Those men stopped their vehicle in front of the shop and some of them sprayed bullets from M16 rifles at the sub-district chief, forcing other villagers to run in panic. Mr Abulloh sustained serious gunshot wounds and died at the spot, while others escaped unhurt.
Police and forensic officers arrived at the scene shortly after being alerted and found several M16 cartridges scattering in the area.
Authorities were investigating whether the attack was related to a person conflict or the ongoing southern unrest.
