YALA, Thailand – Three government officials were shot dead Wednesday (April 2nd), including a deputy village chief who was then beheaded, media reported.

A village chief and two deputies were gunned down as they drove on a remote road after attending a meeting in a security "Red Zone" in Yala province, according to AFP.

Urai Tubthong, 42, was beheaded after the ambush. Kalang village head Ia Sithong, 46, was killed along with Chaliew Pikulklin, 49, in Bannang Sata district, The Nation reported.

The attackers took an assault rifle and three revolvers from the victims before fleeing.