A talk show host from one of the many ‘Red Shirts’ radio channels operating in Thailand has been shot in a drive-by attack.

Kwanchai Praipana is a presenter and leader of a pro-government political group the Khon Rak Udon group based in the northern province of Udon Thani.

Local media says he was wounded in the leg and shoulder when a hail of bullets were fired at the station studios.

In 2009, Kwanchai was arrested when the then government raided several Red Shirts stations for broadcasting without a licence.

The channels were set up illegally following the ousting of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinowatra in 2006.

While the Red Shirts support Thaksin and his sister Yingluck, who is current prime minister, they are disliked by many middle class Thais.

In recent months, hundreds of thousands of people have staged anti-government protests, campaigning for the Thaksin “regime” to be forced out of office.

A state of emergency was been declared in the capital Bangkok from Wednesday after protesters managed to shut down key intersections for several days.

Reports suggest as many as 50 Red Shirts stations have operated over the past few years but it is unclear how many are still on air.