Bang Tao fishermen gunned down

CHERNG TALAY: Two teenage fishermen from Bang Tao were gunned down while riding their motorbikes from Heroines’ Monument to Cherng Talay early Sunday morning.

Both died from their injuries.

Deputy Investigation Inspector Pol Capt Sanit Nu-Kong of Thalang Police told the Gazette, that police received a report that the men had been shot about 1:25 am.

Officers arrived at the scene near Baan Manik to find the two men lying on the ground near their fallen motorcycles.

“Virat Je-So,18, from Krabi, was dead at the scene. He had been shot once in the middle of the back, once in the left calf and once in his right hip,” Capt Sanit said, adding that a .38 caliber bullet casing was found near the body.

Likit To-Pulad, 19, from Samui, also had been shot three times: once in the chest and twice in his right arm, Capt Sanit added. He was rushed to Thalang Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Capt Sanit told the Gazette that one of the two men’s friends was riding behind the pair when they were attacked. “He told me that two motorcycles with about fours guys rode up beside them and shot his friends before speeding off toward Bang Tao.

“However, he cannot remember their faces,” he added.

“We are not sure whether or not the attack was related to their work. We are investigating whether the two men had any enemies,” Capt Sanit said.

“The two men had grown up in Bang Tao, and have worked as fishermen in the area for a long time.”