Nakhon Phanom monk attacks man with machete

A blade-wielding monk attacked a man with a machete, leaving him seriously injured. The incident occurred at Wat Si Bun Rueang in Nakhon Phanom, with the monk claiming self-defence against a suspected thief.

Police received a report of an assault involving a monk at Wat Si Bun Rueang, located in Ban Kham That, Nakhon Phanom. Officers arrived to find a blood-stained machete measuring 30 centimetres and a 1-metre-long spade at the scene. The monk, identified as 65 year old Luechai, was present and ready to provide his account of the events.

The victim, 27 year old Supicha, suffered severe injuries, including a gash on his head and a nearly severed right wrist. He was rushed to a local hospital by emergency responders from the Nong Yat Subdistrict Municipality.

Luechai explained that the incident took place while he was chanting in front of his hut. Supicha had been digging for crickets behind the hut, using a spade to make five holes. He had been behaving erratically, singing loudly as if under the influence of drugs. Luechai approached Supicha, asking him to fill the holes to prevent accidents at night.

“The man then raised the spade as if to attack me,” Luechai stated. “I grabbed a machete from the front of my hut and struck him twice, hitting his head and arm. He then ran away. I acted in self-defence because he had been loitering around my hut for the past two or three days.”

Supicha’s version of events differed. He claimed he had visited the temple over two days to dig for crickets, creating 14 to 15 holes. When Luechai approached him, the monk suddenly attacked him without provocation. Supicha tried to defend himself, resulting in severe injury to his arm and head.

Monk attack

“I was digging for crickets when the monk came at me with a machete. I used my arm to block the blows, which nearly severed it. I don’t understand why he attacked me,” said Supicha, speculating that Luechai might have suspected him of theft.

A 68 year old neighbour, Thanachai Neerasamit, recounted that Luechai called him after the incident. Upon arrival, Thanachai found Supicha lying in a pool of blood near the temple entrance. He transported Supicha to his parents’ house, from where an emergency vehicle took him to the hospital.

Police reported that Supicha had a criminal record for theft and had previously escaped from a drug rehabilitation centre in Mueang Nakhon Phanom twice. Police detained Luechai for questioning at the Nakhon Phanom police station, reported KhaoSod.

Relatives later requested that Luechai return to his monastery in Renunakhon district, fearing retaliation from Supicha’s family if he remained at Wat Si Bun Rueang.