Rubber tapper killed, wife survived: police

Police said the victim died from wounds to his chest and back and his wife, who fled through the rubber plantation, suffered severe injuries before being rescued by local residents.

 In a second incident yesterday, a roadside bomb targeting a security unit patrolling the outback of Sukirin district went off but failed to inflict any injuries.

 In nearby Pattani's Tambon Pakaharang, a resident was wounded but survived after four gunmen on two motorbikes, using 11mm and AK-47 weapons, fired several shots at him as he was riding his motorcycle.

Mahyuding Che-loh, 36, was taken to a nearby hospital by local residents.

 More than 3,200 people have been killed since January 2004 in Thailand's deep South where authorities said a new generation of Muslim militants are trying to carve out a separate homeland for Malays in the region.