Authorities injured as angry Chiang Mai villagers react to suspect’s killing
A police officer and an Army officer were injured by angry villagers on Tuesday after a drug suspect was shot dead in Chiang Mai.
A Lahu drug suspect was shot dead while allegedly resisting arrest on Tuesday evening at a village in Chiang Mai’s Wiang Haeng district, prompting angry villagers to surround and attack two officials in retaliation.
Chiang Mai deputy police chief Pol Colonel Songkrit Ontakrai led a team of police to search Ban Huay Krai Mai in Tambon Piang Luang in Wiang Haeng on Wednesday morning. They searched for five or six men alleged to have assaulted and injured Pol Lt-Colonel Triloj Pundee, the deputy commander of Wiang Haeng police station, and Sergeant Chatchawan Wongharn, an Army unit commander, in the district.
On Tuesday evening, Triloj led a team of police and Army troops to inspect Ban Huay Krai Mai to search for drug suspects.
The team encountered two men riding a motorcycle out of the village and so the team told them to stop for a check. The rider abandoned the motorcycle and ran into a forest while the pillion rider, who was carrying a rifle, opened fire at the authorities, resulting in a gunfight.
The pillion rider was killed in the shootout. He was identified as Jajua Ja-or, 50, a Lahu in the village and wanted on an arrest warrant issued by Chiang Mai court on November 6 2018, said police.
The sounds of gunfire prompted 200 villagers to come out to surround the authorities before five or six men attacked and injured Triloj and Chatchawan. Triloj was hit on his head with a stick and stone and required 10 stitches.
Chatchawan, who rushed in to help, was attacked and developed bruises on his body and face.
Songkrit said police have learned the identities of the attackers and would soon seek arrest warrants against them.