YALA: A local leader was shot dead by two gunmen on the way home after prayer at the village mosque, and one of the men was later killed in a shootout with police, in Bannang Sata district on Friday.
Tullatae Yaya, 49, kamnan of tambon Tanor Putae, was slain by two men riding on on a motorcycle in Kasang village of tambon Tanor Putae around 1.45pm.
Tullatae, who was also riding a motorcycle, was shot five times - in the head and body.
Police, soldiers and forensic officers called to the scene found five spent AK cartridges scattered on the road.
Security officers retrieve the body of the gunman killed in a shootout with police from an irrigation ditch. (Photo by Maluding Deeto)
Investigators reported that the victim was returning home from prayers. Two men on a motorcycle approached him and the pillion rider fired shots at him.
The slain local leader had been cooperating fully with authorities in tackling illicit drugs and security problems in the area.
The killers fled, but ran into police in nearby Tanor Putae Nai community. They opened fire on the police vehicle.
During the subsequent exchange of shots, one of the two men was killed and his body fell into an irrigation ditch. The other fled.
Police were still trying to identify the two gunmen.
