A local leader was shot dead in Pattani's Yarang district on Tuesday morning, police said.
Pol Col Somboon Puangmalai, the Yarang police chief, said the attack occurred about 6am as Umar Kutet, 45, the chief of tambon Khao Tum in Yarang district, was driving his car from Muang district of Yala province back to his home in Moo 6 village of tambon Khao Tum.
On a rural road between Kobato and Nam Sai villages, armed men in a pick-up that had followed him from Yala opened fire at the driver's side of the car with M16 and AK47 rifles. Umar was hit many times in the head and body and his vehicle crashed into a power pole.
Umar was admitted to Yala Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Umar resigned as deputy chairman of the Khao Tum tambon administration organisation in January to run in a local election and was elected kamnan of tambon Khao Tum, replacing the former tambon chief who retired.
Police were investigating to establish the motive for the murder.