Cult blamed for deadly killing rampage in Surat Thani

Police reported that a strange cult allegedly led a Thai man to go on a killing rampage yesterday, taking the life of his niece and injuring her daughter at a palm plantation in the southern province.

The violent rampage was reported at approximately 2pm yesterday, July 25, at a palm plantation in the Phrasaeng district of Surat Thani. Officers from Phrasaeng Police Station rushed to the scene along with rescuers and found the body of 25 year old Thai woman, Phikunkaew Parnkhan, outside a house on the plantation.

Phikunkaew sustained a fatal stab wound to her neck. Her four year old daughter was found crying near her body. The girl was also injured in the head and was rushed to hospital.

The murderer was later identified as the victim’s relative, 57 year old Pramuan Phantu. He was wandering in the plantation with a rifle and knife, prompting police to close off the plantation to prevent him from escaping and attacking more people.

Police spent over an hour trying to convince Pramuan to surrender but failed. Fortunately, officers seized an opportunity when Pramuan was off guard to successfully arrest him.

According to the police report, Pramuan talked nonsensically and chanted in a language unfamiliar to the police. He was heard glorifying a cult leader and begging the leader not to ban him from speaking.

Police suspect that cult beliefs led Pramuan to commit the violent act but further investigation will be conducted to determine the motive behind the incident.

Police took Pramuan to the police station and planned to question and examine him later to see if there was any alcohol or drugs in his system.

Matichon reported that Pramuan’s father, whose house was near the scene, declined to give an interview to the media, saying he had not been in contact with Pramuan for a long time.

ORIGINAL STORY: Thai woman killed, girl injured in rampage in Surat Thani

Phrasaeng Police Station officers have surrounded a palm plantation in the southern province of Surat Thani after a Thai man went on a rampage, killing one woman and injuring a young girl.

Police were notified about the rampage at approximately 2pm today, July 25, and rushed to the scene along with a rescue team. Officers reported to KhaoSod that the lifeless body of 25 year old woman, Phikunkaew, was found outside a single-storey house on the plantation.

A young girl, whose age and name remain undisclosed, was seriously injured. Rescuers provided her with first aid and rushed her to hospital. The girl sustained a head wound and her body was covered in blood.

The culprit remains at large in the plantation. He is reportedly carrying a rifle and a knife while wandering around the area.

It is suspected that the culprit and the victims were family members. Phikunkaew is reported to be the culprit’s niece while the injured girl is reported to be the deceased’s daughter. This information has not yet been confirmed by the police.

Officers are currently surrounding the plantation and nearby area while attempting to persuade the culprit to surrender to the police.

In a related report, police arrested two suspects in the murder of a village headman in Surat Thani in March. The victim was shot dead outside his home, sending shockwaves through the local community. Police suspect that a personal conflict between the three led to the fatal shooting.

Another Thai man, a casino boss, was murdered in Surat Thani in the same month. Police later arrested the suspected killer, Thanya “Bom” Wichaidit, who was also on the wanted list by Surat Thani Provincial Court. Bom denied the allegation, but police were not convinced by his claim.

In February, the murder of an Australian DJ was reported in Surat Thani. His body, with a severe wound to his face, was discovered on the roadside. Following evidence and information from witnesses, police arrested the main suspect, a Moroccan man, who eventually admitted to killing the victim after a heated argument.