A Thai man was killed by suspected insurgents in Thailand's southernmost province of Narathiwas on Monday.

The victim was Is-sa-ma-air Ma-sa-mae, 53 years old, a former assistant of a village head in Boe-ngore sub-district in Ra-nage district of Narathiwas, Thai News Agency reported.

Ma-sa-mae was shot by the drive-by-suspected militants, local police said.

Thailand's deep South comprises mainly the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwas, and some four districts of Song-kla province.

Over 3,500 people have been killed by the daily violence attack by the suspected separatists since January 2004.