A husband and wife who sell vegetables were killed in an ambush by suspected insurgents in Narathiwat's Rangae district on Sunday.
Security officials called to inspect two bodies on a road in Moo 1 village in tambon Tanyongmas in the afternoon identified the couple as Songchai Promchan, 40, and his wife, Nittaya Fainareepon, 35.
The slain couple were travelling home on a motorcycle after selling all their vegetables at Tanyongmas market when at least two gunmen who were hiding in roadside bushes came out on the road to stop them.
The attackers ordered them to get off their bike and shot them in the head several times at point-blank range. They then fled with the couple’s vehicle. Police collected 10 spent bullet shells from a 9mm handgun at the spot, Pol Col Jiradej Phrasawarng, chief of Rangae district police station, said.
Police inspecting the scene said Songchai and Nittaya appeared to wai and plead for their lives with the gunmen before they were murdered, Pol Col Jiradej added.
Shortly after the incident, a paramilitary ranger, Fadualee Arong, 23, of the 48th Rangers Regiment, was seriously wounded in another ambush in Sai Buri districts while riding on a motorcycle with his girlfriend Porteemoh Jaesor, 19.
Ms Porteemoh sustained minor injuries after the bike fell on her.
Police are investigating if the incident is related to the southern-insurgency.