Police said Manah Samae, 56, was shot dead while riding his motorcycle on a road in Ban Buanae Rayor village in Tambon Rusoh of Rusoh district at about 9:20 pm.

Police said Manah had bullet wounds to his head and body. He was shot with an M16 assault rifle while was riding his motorcycle back home from a teashop. Six spent shells of M16 ammunitions were found at the scene.

Police said Manah used to be an insurgent suspect but reported the authorities under a pardon programme for insurgents and had apparently turned over a new leaf.

His body was sent for an autopsy at Rusoh Hospital and will be handed over to relatives for burial today.