Group guns down religious teacher, seriously injures son in Pattani

A religious teacher was shot dead and his son, seriously injured when they were set upon by a group of unknown gunmen after the victims performed the Terawih prayers at the Nongchik district in turbulent southern Thailand last night.

The deceased was identified as Awae Taksatu, 55. He sustained gunshot wounds in the head and chest.

His son, Atif, 12, sustained injuries to the body while Awae's widow escaped unhurt in the shooting.

The ambush occurred at 9.35pm (local time) outside a mosque located inside the Sekolah Agama Mulniti Chumchon Islam Suksa in Kampung Pulut Puyo.

Nongchik investigation division assistant chief Captain Sarawuth Nucharang said today that initial investigations revealed Awae was an activist who actively assisted suspects involved in violence cases in the Nongchik district.

He said five masked men waited outside the mosque and fired several shots, hitting Awae when he exited the mosque and tried to escape from the assailants.

One of the gunmen then approached the fallen activist and fired a shot to the head, he added.

-- BERNAMA