A village headman was shot to death in a ride-by attack in Sungai Padi district of Narathiwat province on Thursday morning.
Police said the incident occurred at 10.45 while Posu Chelong, 46, chief of Ban Lubo Batu in tambon Paluru, was checking the engine oil and water of his pick-up truck in front of his house.
At the time, two men arrived on a motorcycle and the pillion rider shot three times in Posu's head with a .357 pistol, killing him instantly.
Police believed it was the work of southern militants.