A village head and his assistant were shot dead by a group of men using a pickup at Kampung Bangol Dokdung, Jok Irong in Narathiwat, southern Thailand, last night.

Jok Irong police chief Col Prawit Soseng said in the 11.50pm incident Anuar Sulong, 49, and his assistant, Abdul Fatah Munak, 35, were shot dead while digging a well.

"Both died while receiving treatment at the Jok Irong Hospital while three others, including a 28-year-old ranger, were injured in the same incident," he told reporters today.

Police found 17, M-16 empty shells at the scene and will intensify investigations to hunt down those responsible, he said.

Meanwhile, according to Prawit, two men on a motorcycle were injured when they were shot at by unidentified assailants at 12.15 midnight in Sungai Golok.