A villager who was an informant for the military was shot dead late Saturday night while returning home from a night prayer in Pattani's Panare district, police said.
Pol Col Payawat Phetchum, the district police chief, said while Abdulkolik Cheha, 36, was arriving at his home in tambon Khao Tum from a village mosque a number of men hiding in the dark opened fire at him. He was killed instantly.
Police examining the scene on Sunday morning recovered 13 spent shells for an AK102 and 11 9mm bullet casings.
Police believe it was the work of southern militants since Abdulkolik had worked as an informant for the military.