PATTANI — An assistant village chief was killed and his wife critically injured in a drive-by shooting in Nong Chik district Tuesday night.
Police said the attack occurred at about 8pm on a village road in Tha Kam Cham sub-district as the 50-year-old assistant village chief of Ban Moo 1, Jaemano Jae-soh, was taking his wife home on a motorcycle after a trip to the market.
Two men on a motorcycle followed them and the pillion rider fired several shots with a pistol and fled. Jaemana died at the scene while his wife, whose name is not disclosed, is being treated in Nong Chik hospital's emergency unit.
Pattani police deputy chief Prabparn Meemongkol went to inspect the scene and ordered police to seal off the area to track down the assailants.
Pol Col Prabparn believes the attack was the work of southern insurgents as the deceased had assisted in authorities' security work.