Police, DSI officers surround Dhammakaya Temple
Four companies of crowd-control police commandos and officers from the Department of Special Investigation laid siege to the controversial Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani Tuesday morning in what appeared to be preparations for a raid.
The officers gathered at the Klong Luang district office 5:30 am and moved to the temple.
Security guards of the temple closed Gate 7 on the Bang Khan-Nong Sua Road and lay followers of controversial abbot Phra Dhamachayao came out to sit behind Gate 2 and Gate 3 to pray to thwart any possible raid.
Security guards allowed the people to pass through Gate 6 amid tight security. The guards checked ID cards of all who entered the temple.
A lot of lay followers were seen sitting behind Gate 1 to pray in a tactic to try to convince the authorities to abort a possible raid.
And police also used a crane over a bridge in front of Gate 4 to try to observe moves inside the temple. Monks of the temple were also seen staging a watch-out on the bridge.
