PATTANI: Two villagers were killed in two separate gun attacks in Nong Chik and Sai Buri districts on Sunday morning, police said.
The first incident happened at about 4.30am at Village Group 7 of tambon Pulo Puyo in Nong Chik district when Arong Wamata-u, 30, was riding home on a motorcycle with a nephew riding pillion.
They were followed by two men on another motorcycle and at one point the pillion-riding gunman opened fire, hitting Arong twice in the body, seriously wounding him. Arong was rushed to Nong Chik Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
In Sai Buri district, a villager was found lying dead on a rural road near Village Group 5 in tambon Lahan at about 7.30am. He was identified as Paosee Lateh, 40, a construction worker.
A police investigation revealed that Paosee was leaving his home on a motorcycle, heading for the village, when he was fired at by two men on another motorcycle. He was hit twice -- once in the head and the other time in the body.
Pol Maj Gen Piyawat Chalermsri, the Pattani police chief, said an investigation is underway to establish whether the two incidents were related to the southern insurgency or due to personal conflicts.