NARATHIWAT -- An assistant village chief and a local resident were shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Rueso district on Wednesday morning.
The attack took place on a road facing rubber plantations in tambon Rueso, said Pol Capt Marut Ninkosee, a duty investigation chief at Rueso police station, who was alerted around 9.30am.
Police found two bodies inside a pickup truck. Both had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Some spent AK rifle cartridges were found scattered across the road.
The victims were identified as Rosadan Usae-dolor, assistant village head of village Moo 7 in tambon Rueso, and defence volunteer Deeman Jiyue-rae.
A police investigation showed that Mr Rosadan was driving with Mr Deeman sitting when two attackers travelling on a motorcycle followed and the pillion rider opened fire.
Before fleeing, the gunman got off the bike to take a 9mm pistol from the slain assistant village chief.
Police believed the attack was linked to southern unrest.