Police protection for injured kamnan following gun attack

Police protection has been arranged for a kamnan of Chiang Rai’s Wiang Kaen district who was shot and wounded by a group of gunmen on Tuesday night (April 24).

Mr Thaweesak Yodmaneebanpot, 54, headman of Tambon Por, told Pol Col Wirat Sommanapant, deputy commander of Chiang Rai provincial police, from his hospital bed that he feared for the safety of his family, pointing that the gunmen might return to finish off him and his three-year-old son who was also seriously injured in the gun attack.

While visiting the injured official, Pol Col Wirat assured him that the national police chief, Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, had ordered protection to be provided to Mr Thaweesak and his son.

The injured kamnan suffered serious injuries which rendered him temporary blindness, but his condition is stable.  But his wife and a five-year daughter were killed by the gunmen.

Pol Col Wirat said he suspected business conflict or the kamnan’s tough law enforcement as motives for the gun attack.

The pickup truck in which the kamnan and his family were travelling when it was attacked was punctured by 25 bullet holes believed fired from AK47 assault rifles.