A tambon headman and his aide were wounded in a gun attack in Pattani's Yarang district early Sunday, police said.
Pol Col Somboon Puangmalai, the Yarang police chief, said the incident occurred at about 1am on a road at Aho villlage in tambon Sakawa in Yarang district.
Solahuding Che-ubong, 47, the kamnan of tambon Sadawa, and his aide Mama Doka, 45, were returning home in a Mitsubishi Pajero SUV after attending a takraw game in Aho village when their vehicle was ambushed by a group of men armed with AK47 rifles hiding on the side of the road.
The kamnan was hit in the right leg and lost control of his vehicle which slammed into two power poles, felling one of them. Mr Mama was hit many times in the left arm, left shoulder and left leg. The vehicle was riddled with bullets and badly damaged.
The attackers fled into the dark.
The two men were admitted to Pattani Hospital.
Police are investigating whether the attack was related to a personal conflict or the insurgency.