Muslim religious leader shot dead in Narathiwat

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NARATHIWAT, March 2— An imam, or Muslim religious leader, was killed and his son was severely injured in a shooting attack in the restive southern province of Narathiwat.

The victims were identified as Kori Dolo, an imam of Kuyi mosque in Tapoyo subdistrict, and his 17 year-old son, Aris, according to Pol Col Suthon Sukwiset of Yi-ngo police station.

The fatal assault occurred Sunday morning on a road in front of Baan Balukasano School in Yi-ngo district when Mr Aris rode a motorcycle to send Mr Koro, the pillion passenger, to a nearby school.

En route to the school, two men wearing safety helmets followed and approached the victims. A gunman, who was riding pillion, then fired several times at the victims and sped away.

The 62-year-old Muslim religious leader died at the scene while his son was seriously wounded and sent to Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital.

Initially, the police presume that the attack was carried out by an ill-intentioned group, with the aim of creating daily unrest and instigating conflicts in the region.