In the first incident at about 7.30am in Nong Chik district, police discovered the bodies of Muang district defence volunteer Thawat Pongsuwan, 43, and his 31-year-old wife Papimol Chaikhong.

Both had been shot several times in the head and chest as they rode a motorcycle near the entrance to Ban Tha Dan Moo 2 in Tambon Don Rak.

The couple had been on their way to pick up their child from a relative’s house when they were ambushed by two men on a motorbike, according to authorities. Police suspect the attack was part of ongoing unrest in the deep South.

Around the same time, people in Yaring district alerted police after the body of Duan Sirat, 38, was found near a chicken coop in Ban Yeuring Moo 4 in Tambon Tanyong Dalor.

It was reported that Duan, a Ma Yor district electricity office worker, had been riding his motorcycle in the area at about 3am when he was shot dead. Police are investigating whether the attack stemmed from the unrest or was related to a personal conflict or drug issue.

At 9.30am, Ban Moo 3 village headman Pradap Mainjon was shot dead and his wife Amporn wounded in an attack in Ban Tanyong Jeung Nga in Yaring district.

The couple were travelling in a pickup truck toward the Muang district when two men on a motorcycle shot at them with military-model weapons.