Suthida Tangjai, the second-year student at Princess of Naradhiwas University (PNU), who was left in a coma following a shooting attack on Sunday, died Wednesday without recovering consciousness.
She was struck in the head by a bullet while she and three friends were riding a motorcycle back to her dormitory in Narathiwat's Muang district after attending lectures at the university.
Suthida Tangjai, the second-year student at Princess of Naradhiwas University (PNU) was shot in the head for no apparent reason while riding her motorcycle in Narathiwat. She clung to life for three days in the ICU. (Photo by Weadao Harai)
The 20-year-old victim was pronounced dead morning after having spent three days in intensive care at Naradhiwasrajanagarindra Hospital in Muang district.
More than 500 people, mostly fellow students, teachers, and security officials, attended a funeral bathing ceremony Wednesday afternoon at Bang Por Temple in Muang district.
Sitthichai Sakda, deputy provincial governor, gave Sudaporn Tangjai, Suthida's mother, 500,000 baht in financial assistance that is normally provided to families of southern violence victims.
The attack on the student has underlined the need for better security measures for students and teachers in Narathiwat and other restive provinces in the far South, observers say.
Several PNU representatives met military, police and local administration officials to discuss strengthening security measures for students and teachers at the university.
The meeting was called in response to the attack on Suthida.
Meanwhile, police in Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district were alerted to the discovery of a home-made bomb planted in a drainpipe near the entrance to the To Deng tambon administration organisation offices.
A bomb disposal team was called in to examine the improvised explosive device that was later found to contain as much as 25 kilogrammes of explosives stuffed in a cooking gas cylinder.
The disposal team decided to destroy the bomb using a high-pressure water gun.
Several eyewitnesses told police they saw two male teenagers on a single motorcycle stop where the bomb was later found, pretend to relieve themselves, and then flee.
The bomb was later discovered by workers who arrived to begin work on building a new drainage system. They alerted police after finding the gas cylinder wrapped in a black bin liner in the drainpipe.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has denied rumours that Malaysia has quit its role as host of the Thai government's peace talks with separatist groups linked to the southern violence.
Rumour has it the Thai government had approached Indonesia to become the new host of the talks.
Gen Prawit insisted the Thai negotiating team was still in regular contact with Malaysia about the talks.
There is not a shred of truth that Thailand has asked Indonesia to be the new facilitator, he said.
Meanwhile, the Internal Security Operations Command's Region 4 told military officials at a meeting at army headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Avenue Wednesday that 17 violent incidents were reported in the deep South last week.
Six incidents were found to be related to the southern violence while another four were motivated by personal conflicts. The other seven incidents were still being investigated to determine the motives.