A local official was killed and another villager seriously wounded in separate drive-by shootings in Pattani province on Saturday morning.
The first attack occurred in tambon Talohmaena in Thung Yang Daeng district where Sofee Yapa, 46, deputy chairman of the tambon administration organisation, was shot dead.
Witnesses told police that Sofee was travelling on his motorcycle on the local road at Ban Khok Mude when a gunman riding pillion on another motorcycle fired at him with a handgun. The assailants then fled.
Sofee took bullets in his face and left shoulder. He was taken to Thung Yang Daeng hospital and later pronounced dead.
Police blamed separatist militants.
The second shooting took place on a rural road at Ban Yukong in tambon Kaso of Mayo district.
Suemadee Bueraheng, 31, was travelling on his motorcycle when he was shot with a handgun by a gunman on another motorcycle, who fled after the attack, said Pol Col Kongath Suwankham, chief of Mayo police station.
Suemadee was seriously injured, taking several bullets in his torso and taken to Mayo hospital.