Gunmen Kill Tambon Official After Prayers in Pattani

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

A subdistrict administrative officer was shot dead in his car in a daylight attack outside a mosque in Yarang district, Pattani, on 17 October. The killing, described by police as brutal and deliberate, has prompted a large-scale manhunt after the attackers fled the scene and later burned their getaway vehicle in a nearby rubber plantation.

At around 13:30, Pol Col Warin Wanthongchai, superintendent of Yarang Police Station, received a report of a shooting near the Ko Bator Mosque in Moo 5, Mo Mawi subdistrict. Officers arriving at the scene found a white Mitsubishi Pajero, registration from Songkhla, crashed by the roadside about 100 metres from the mosque. The driver, identified as Mr. Muhammatnur Awae, 51, from Narathiwat province and serving as subdistrict chief administrative officer (Palad) of Khao Toom, was found dead in the driver’s seat with multiple gunshot wounds to the head, neck, arms and torso. Investigators recovered several bullet casings from the scene.

According to initial witness statements, at least four assailants in a white car ambushed the victim as he left the mosque following midday prayers. They reportedly opened fire from both the front and rear of the vehicle. The victim attempted to flee but lost control of his car after being severely wounded, crashing into another vehicle before dying at the scene.

Pol Col Warin ordered an immediate pursuit of the suspects and a review of CCTV footage from nearby routes. Investigators are pursuing two main lines of inquiry, personal or professional conflicts and the ongoing unrest in Thailand’s southern border provinces. The victim was known locally for his straightforward and honest work ethic, which police said would also be examined as part of the investigation. Ballistic analysis is underway to identify the weapons used.

Later the same day, at about 17:10, police received a report of a car fire in a rubber plantation in Moo 4, Khao Toom subdistrict, just a few kilometres from the murder scene. Officers from Bansorong Police Station discovered a completely burned car of unidentified registration. Investigators believe it was the getaway vehicle used in the attack and set ablaze to destroy evidence.

Authorities continue to collect evidence and analyse CCTV footage across the area to track down the suspects. Security operations have been heightened in Yarang and neighbouring districts as police coordinate with local defence volunteers and military units to prevent further violence.

Key Takeaways

• Mr. Muhammatnur Awae, Palad of Khao Toom, was fatally shot near a Pattani mosque on 17 October.

• Police suspect at least four attackers who later burned their getaway car in a nearby plantation.

• Investigators are pursuing motives linked to personal issues or regional unrest.

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Dailynews 2025-10-19