Meatball vendor killed in robbery

THALANG: The body of a meatball vendor was found by villagers at the side of Thepkrasattri Rd last night. Police believe he was killed in the course of a robbery. The man has been identified as 38-year-old Charoon Sura, a resident of Thalang. Pol Maj Pornthep Phutluecha of Thalang Police Station told the Gazette that villagers called police at about midnight to report the discovery of a body near the entrance to Baan Kanengnanai. When officers arrived at the scene, they found K. Charoon’s body lying on the ground in the tall grass at the roadside beside a motorbike and sidecar. The victim’s skull was cracked. Police believe he was hit with a blunt object and estimate he had been dead for at least two hours. Maj Pornthep said, “There was no money found at the scene so we believe that he was robbed on his way back home. “While he was riding, the robbers may have pulled up on either side of him on motorcycles, then struck him on the head with something. He probably lost control of the bike and fell at the side of the road. His money was then taken.” Villagers reported seeing four strangers on two motorbikes riding around the area that night, before the victim’s body was found. K. Charoon’s body was sent to Thalang Hospital for autopsy.