A village chief and his two female assistants were killed yesterday when a group of gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in Yala's Bannang Sata district. One of the female victims was beheaded. Her head was recovered near the scene.The bodies of the victims were found near a pickup truck near a bridge when police along with a bomb disposal unit arrived. They were on their way back from a meeting when the attack took place.
The vehicle they were in was severely damaged and riddled with bullets. Police said the attackers also took the victims' guns and cash before fleeing. Found at the scene were a number of bullets and leaflets.
The assailants are believed to be separatist
In another attack, a female defense volunteer was gunned down by a gunman riding pillion on a motorcycle in Pattani's Nong Chik district yesterday afternoon. She was returning home by motorcycle when she was attacked by two men who had followed her on another motorcycle.