Two people, one a young woman university student, were killed and three others wounded in two attacks by gunmen in Narathiwat province on Sunday.
The young student died after being shot and seriously wounded in Muang district of Narathiwat province, police said.
Pol Lt Natthanin Anupaboonyawat, the duty officer at Muang district police station, said the attack occurred about 5.35pm when Suthida Tangjai, 20, a second-year student student at the Princess of Naradhiwas University, and three friends were riding on two motorcycles along the Narathiwat - Cho Airong road in tambon Lamphu of Muang district.
They were followed by two men, whose faces were obscured by crash helmets, on another motorcycle. The pillion rider pulled out a handgun and fired one shot, hitting Suthida in the back of her head. The shooter pointed the gun at the three others but it apparently misfired and the attackers sped away.
Suthida was seriously wounded and was rushed to Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police suspected the attack was the work of separatist militants. About three years ago Suthida's father, Laeo, was shot dead in a similar fashion in tambon Khao Po of Narathiwat's Muang district.
In the second attack, a group of men travelling on a black pick-up truck opened fire at a house in Ta-se villge in tambon Nanak of Tak Bai district while four people were sitting in front of it. The attacl occurred about 7.40pm.
A woman, Somporn Pothipoch, 40, was killed on spot, and the three other people were wounded. They were identified as Pradab Kaewliam, 43, the house owner, Ranchuan Chamnanklang, 40, and Pol Lance-Corporal Likit Ladasri, 23.
Teams of Tak Bai police and soldiers from the Narathiwat Task Force 31 were despatched to hunt down the attackers.