Sole searching: Thai man hits Buddha with flipflop after ex-wife return wish fails

[snoop1130]

 

CCTV footage at a temple in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat showed a Thai man hitting a Buddha statue with a flipflop after a wish for the return of his ex-wife was unfulfilled.

 

A local in the Ron Phibun district of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Piyapong Sutthiphakdee, took to social media to condemn the Thai man for his disrespectful behaviour after he threw a flipflop at a Buddha statue and repeatedly hit the sacred effigy with his footwear.

 

Piyapong shared the video of the man’s action on his Facebook account with a few words in the caption.

 

“I won’t complain if you don’t have a faith in the statue, so you should not insult others who believe by committing such a disrespectful act.”

 

The video footage captured the man swiftly entering the main hall, where he removed his flipflop and used it to strike the statue’s head. As he prepared to depart, he turned back and hurled one of his flipflops at the statue. Returning to retrieve his footwear, he struck the statue once more and shouted before leaving the scene.

 

The statue, known as Phor Than Sang, resides within Wua Lung Temple in the Ron Phibun district. Crafted to honour a former abbot of the temple, it holds significant reverence among residents in the area as well as those from neighbouring districts in the province.

 

Statue damage

 

This aggressive act against the statue came to light when a 67 year old local man, Narongtham Suwannaparn, noticed damage to the statue’s right eye. Narongtham prompted the current abbot to review security camera footage from the main hall, revealing the incident which occurred on March 11.

 

Narongtham and the abbot filed a complaint against the man, later identified as 33 year old Nantapong “Bas” Salai at Ron Phibun Police Station. Officers reported to ThaiRath that Bas absconded after the crime. Police are searching for him and are believed to arrest Bas very soon.

 

According to the police, Bas was a drug addict who also suffered from mental illness as a consequence of drug use. Prior to the incident, he had expressed a desire at the temple for the return of his ex-wife. Upon realising that his wish remained unfulfilled, he became enraged and sought revenge by vandalising the statue.

 

Locals in the area are angry at Bas and urged the abbot to pursue the case fully. Many hope for Bas to face consequences for what he did to the sacred statue.

 

 

By Petch Petpailin

Caption: Photo via Facebook/ Piyapong Sutthiphakdee

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-15

 

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[RandiRona]

Well, Thanks to Buddha that he won’t be decapitated or lynched in Public for this since he follow Buddhism vs Another religion of peace.
Though on the drawback is that won’t get 72 virgins and a goat in his afterlife either.

 

[Dolf]

No lotto numbers either

[reefsurfah]

Unlikely to get his ex wife back now.  Ex wife must be relieved. 555

[sirineou]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai man hitting a Buddha statue with a flipflop after a wish for the return of his ex-wife was unfulfilled.

I am more interested in Buddha's reaction. 

[Korat Kiwi]

And this makes the news! 

 

 

[rwill]

10 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

And this makes the news! 

 

 

just imagine if it was a foreigner doing it.

[sirineou]

9 minutes ago, rwill said:

just imagine if it was a foreigner doing it.

A foreigner would not be usund a flip flop. 

[Classic Ray]

In Bristol, UK, he would have pitched the statue into the docks whilst the police stood down, just like John Cabot’s statue.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

CCTV footage at a temple in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat showed a Thai man hitting a Buddha statue with a flipflop after a wish for the return of his ex-wife was unfulfilled

I can understand why she stayed away....

[Thingamabob]

The concept of a 'sacred statue' is entirely alien to Buddhist philosophy.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, reefsurfah said:

Unlikely to get his ex wife back now.  Ex wife must be relieved. 555

Maybe Buddha worked in a mysterious ways and made sure she didn't return to this idiot

[2baht]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The video footage captured the man swiftly entering the main hall, where he removed his flipflop and used it to strike the statue’s head. As he prepared to depart, he turned back and hurled one of his flipflops at the statue. Returning to retrieve his footwear, he struck the statue once more and shouted before leaving the scene.

 

Well damn! I think she will come running back to him after this..............Fragile wimp! 

[Moonlover]

It's always somebody else's fault!

[JeffersLos]

The Thai that started smashing up Erawan shrine was ripped to pieces by the Thais there and died. The police never charged a single person. 

 

He's lucky a group of Thais didn't walk in. They would have left with some good Buddhist karma. 

[klauskunkel]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Prior to the incident, he had expressed a desire at the temple for the return of his ex-wife. Upon realising that his wish remained unfulfilled, he became enraged and sought revenge by vandalising the statue.

"Expressing a desire" will achieve nothing, you have to buy the amulet, dummy!

[Grumpy one]

14 hours ago, sirineou said:

I am more interested in Buddha's reaction. 

He said OUCH 

[twizzian]

Arguing with a lump of cement

Whatever next!

[brianthainess]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

According to the police, Bas was a drug addict who also suffered from mental illness as a consequence of drug use. Prior to the incident, he had expressed a desire at the temple for the return of his ex-wife.

Leave the poor guy alone, he has enough problems in his life, the abbot should forgive him not get him hunted down and arrested, so much for Thai Buddhism. He has made some bad choices in his life. Empathy is needed not more problems for him, guess he'll be made to Grovel at the Abbots feet. Sick IMO.

[Purdey]

Someone should have told him Buddha died over two millennia ago and was extinguished from the universe. Asking him for anything seems pointless. 

[kidneyw]

At least he never took it out on the in-laws.

[john donson]

brainwashed since birth...

[quake]

Take that you naughty Buddha statue, and don't do it again.

Amazing Thailand.