A former village chief was killed in a drive-by shooting in Pattani’s Thung Yang Daeng district on Friday afternoon, reports said.
He was identified as Rosah Tayoh, 45, a resident of Ban Paseputeh, tambon Pagu of Thung Yang Daeng.
Witnesses told police that Rosah was walking back home from worshipping at the village mosque when a gunman riding pillion on a motorcycle fired at him with handgun. The assailants then fled.
Rosah was shot three times in the face and died on the spot.
Police are investigating the case.
In Pattani's Yaring, villagers spotted a suspicious package placed next to a garbage bin opposite of a security checkpoint.
A team of soldiers, police and an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit rushed to the location. Bomb disposal specialists found an explosive device inside the package and were able to diffuse it.
Investigators suspected that the device could be a time bomb that was set to kill state officials.