Chaiyaphum: A disturbing incident unfolded in the Ban Taen District of Chaiyaphum Province, where a drug addict allegedly vandalized a reliquary containing the cremated remains of over a hundred individuals at a local temple. Family members and relatives were devastated to discover that the urns holding the ashes of their deceased loved ones had been smashed, and the brass containers stolen, leaving the ashes scattered throughout the temple grounds.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident took place at Wat Chai Chomphu, located in Nong Khu Village. The temple's abbot, Luang Pho Chao-athikan Boon-na Chitparo, along with local officials, escorted reporters to the site behind the monks' living quarters, where the urns had been placed. The perpetrators used a hard object to break open the compartments known as "that," which housed the urns along the temple wall. In the process, fragments of brick, cement, and photographs of the deceased were strewn across the area. The desecration left relatives unable to identify the remains of their loved ones, causing significant distress within the community. Additionally, two dogs at the temple sustained injuries after being shot with a slingshot.
The abbot expressed the profound emotional impact of the incident on the villagers, noting that the urns served as cherished memorials for the deceased. It is believed that the vandals targeted the urns to search for coins or small valuables left by relatives and subsequently sold the brass urns. Concerns are growing in Ban Nong Khu, Moo 1, over the possibility of the culprits returning. A similar crime had occurred at Wat Phra Yai on Makha Bucha Day, affecting two other temples in Ban Taen District. Community members suspect the involvement of local drug addicts seeking methamphetamine and are urging Ban Taen Police Station to expedite their investigation.
Pol. Col. Witawat Saengsawat, Superintendent of Ban Taen Police Station, confirmed awareness of the incident and that an investigative team was promptly dispatched to the scene. Initial findings revealed that the urns had been pried open, with money and several brass containers reported missing. The crime likely took place just before Makha Bucha Day. Unfortunately, non-functioning CCTV cameras at Wat Ban Nong Khu have hindered efforts to capture the perpetrators on video. Police are actively interviewing witnesses, conducting further surveys of the crime scene, and pursuing leads to swiftly identify and apprehend suspects.