A village security guard was shot dead in front of a masjid in Muang district of the southern border province of Yala after attending Friday night prayers.

The victim, Sudeng Jehnoh, was approaching his motorcycle, which was parked in front of the Nurus Salam Mosque in Ban Taloh, Lidol sub-district, to head home when two gunmen,who had been lying in wait, opened fire with shotguns.

Eight spent shotgun cartridges were collected by police from the scene as evidence.

The police said that it is not yet clear whether the shooting was motivated by a personal conflict or whether he was shot by insurgents because his father is an assistant village head overseeing security affairs.