A tambon mayor in Narathiwat’s Rueso district was fatally shot at his garment factory on Thursday in a brazen daytime attack, according to authorities. Wichet Thaithongnum, 55, known locally as “Mayor Arm,” was shot at approximately 11:40 a.m. inside the Hand-in-Hand garment factory in tambon Rueso, where he was holding a meeting with the chairwoman of the factory’s community enterprise, Nuree Dewadalae.
Four attackers reportedly arrived on two motorcycles, entered the meeting room, and opened fire before quickly fleeing the scene. Wichet was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds, according to an initial investigation by the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 forward command.
Wichet, a two-time mayor, was also a prominent figure in local sports, serving as chairman of the Narathiwat sports association. His factory is known in the community for creating employment opportunities and housing shops that sell locally produced goods, making it a frequent destination for study visits. Authorities are now investigating the motive behind the attack, which has left the community shaken.
