NARATHIWAT: A villager was gunned down at his rubber plantation in Chanae district of this strife-torn southern province on Saturday morning.
Thavorn Hayeema, 52, was found lying dead on the plantation grounds opposite a house in tambon Chang Pluek when police arrived, said Pol Col Adipong Promnu, a deputy investigation chief at Chanae station, who received the all at around 9am.
The man sustained a gunshot wound to his chest. A spent bullet was found near his body.
Latae Samae, the father-in-law of the victim, said Thavorn was slashing weeds in a plot opposite his house when an assailant opened fire and fled. The sound of the gunshot prompted Mr Latae and other residents to rush to the sire, where they found Thavorn lying dead.
Police are investigating the cause of the attack. An initial investigation found the victim had no involvement with illicit drugs.
In neibbouring Yala province, three bomb blasts occured at rubber plantations last month, seriously wounding three rubber tappers in separate attacks. Officials blamed insurgents for the attacks.
