NARATHIWAT: Two village defence volunteers were killed and two others wounded in a gun attack by a group of gunmen in tambon Chang Phuak of Chanae district on Saturday afternoon.
Pol Lt Adipong Promnu, a Chanae police investigator, said that according to eyewitnesses, at about 5.20pm approximately five armed men emerged from roadside bushes and opened fire at house No 281 and a sentry box near a building used as the village's learning centre.
Four village defence volunteers, two men and two women, were hit by gunshots. One of them, Mrs Uab Uthai, the house owner, was killed instantly in front of the house. The three others -- Siboonruang Uthai, Wanpen Uthai and Boonlert Chotchoi -- were injured.
Siboonruang died shortly afterwards. The two others were admitted to Sungai Kolok Hospital.
The gunshots also damaged a Toyota Yaris car parked in front of the learning centre.
The gunmen then set fire to a pick-up truck before fleeing the scene.
Police were investigating. It was initially believed the attack was the work of separatists.
