A Thai man was reportedly assaulted by a group of Indian tourists early this morning, May 12, in Phuket, following his intervention in a dispute regarding one of the tourists sitting atop a parked car.
The incident took place around 4:30 AM near the end of Bangla Road in the Patong subdistrict of Kathu district. Police received an assault report at approximately 4:50 AM and promptly arrived at the location.
According to the authorities, the group included 37-year-old Indian national Sandeep Kumar, 39-year-old Mohammad Ajaz, and two Indian women, who were waiting for a ride arranged through a mobile application to return to their accommodation.
During the altercation, Sandeep allegedly perched himself on the bonnet of a grey Toyota parked near a nearby noodle stall. The vehicle belonged to 65-year-old Sawai Moonklab, who was selling noodle soup in the vicinity.
Sawai reportedly cautioned Sandeep against sitting on the car, citing potential damage. In response, Sandeep, who appeared to be intoxicated, became irate and pushed Sawai.
Witnessing the escalating situation, 44-year-old Thanakorn Maneechai intervened in an attempt to defuse the confrontation. However, he was subsequently assaulted by Sandeep, Mohammad Ajaz, and the two women, resulting in injuries.
Following the incident, both parties proceeded to the Patong Police Station to lodge complaints and address the matter. Thanakorn was transported to Patong Hospital for medical attention. Investigators are currently reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing those involved to determine the next steps for legal action.
If found culpable, those implicated may face assault charges under Sections 295 and 296 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, which pertains to inflicting physical or mental harm on another individual. Additional charges concerning public disorder or intoxication may also be applicable.
In a related incident, an Indian man is still at large after allegedly attacking a Thai transwoman in her rented accommodation in Phuket and stealing 10,000 baht from her. The victim has taken to social media and local news outlets to share her experience and help locate the suspect.
Source: The Thaiger
