NARATHIWAT -- Bombs damaged 19 roadside power poles in nine districts of this southern province on Saturday night, police said.
An unknown number of militants planted the home-made bombs, each weighing about 10 kilogrammes, at the 19 power poles -- five in Sungai Kolok, three in Sungai Padi, three in Cho Airong, two in Yingo, two in Tak Bai and one each in Muang, Sungai Kolok, Waeng, Rangae and Chanae districts.
The militants started to detonated the bombs with a radio at 7.40pm. Many of them were felled by the blasts.
At a power post near Saengtham Witthaya school in Muang district, a van and a motorcycle were also damaged.
After the blasts, police and military personnel were deployed to protect polling units for the charter referendum.