Cattle farmer bludgeons rival in central Thailand pond row
Suspect arrested after brutal assault with bamboo stick in field
A long-running dispute between two workers in central Thailand turned deadly when one man killed the other during a heated argument.
A bitter turf war between a cattle farmer and a shrimp pond caretaker in Nakhon Pathom exploded into violence this week, ending with one man beaten to death and the other in police custody.
Yesterday, October 23, at 12.20pm, officers from Nakhon Chai Si Police Station responded to reports of a fatal assault in Road Village 5, Tha Phraya subdistrict. Police Lieutenant Colonel Anurak Diklai and Police Colonel Payap Sotharngkul were among those who rushed to the scene.
They found the lifeless body of a 53 year old Laotian man named Seng lying face-up with severe injuries to his head and face. The area was cordoned off while forensic investigators collected evidence. Seng’s body was later transferred to Nakhon Pathom Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Investigators quickly identified the suspect as 54 year old Thawatchai, a local cattle farmer. He had reportedly fled the scene on a motorcycle, heading in the direction of Wat Botakua. Police launched a manhunt and later found him near his home, where a blood-stained bamboo stick, about 1 metre long, was discovered hidden in nearby grass.
Police Colonel Payap confirmed that Seng had been working as a caretaker of nearby shrimp and fish ponds, while Thawatchai raised cattle in the area. The two men had been involved in a long-running dispute, primarily over damage allegedly caused by Thawatchai’s cows grazing near the ponds.
On the day of the killing, the pair reportedly argued again when Thawatchai’s cattle were spotted near Seng’s ponds. The verbal clash quickly escalated into physical violence. In a fit of rage, Thawatchai allegedly grabbed the bamboo stick and struck Seng multiple times, fatally injuring him, reported KhaoSod.
Police have taken Thawatchai into custody and charged him with murder. The investigation is ongoing as officers continue gathering evidence and witness statements.
Officers say the incident underscores the dangers of unresolved community disputes and are urging locals to report tensions before they escalate into violence.
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