12 Bodies Found at Thai Meditation Site, Police Investigate

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Naew Na

 

Thai authorities discovered 12 bodies buried at a meditation site in Kamphaeng Phet province. The location, situated near the Siri Chan Forest Monastery in Khanu Woralaksaburi District, had been associated with unusual meditation practices, including alleged "clairaudience" and "clairvoyance" rituals. Following public outrage, these activities were banned, prompting an investigation into the site's practices.

 

Forensic police, hospital staff, local officials, and rescue workers excavated 17 graves, uncovering 12 bodies. Among them were four recently deceased individuals and eight skeletal remains. One of the bodies, reportedly donated by relatives, belonged to an infant just 55 days old.

 

Investigators noted that salt and banana stalks had been placed in the coffins to slow decomposition, purportedly enabling extended use of the bodies for meditation rituals.

 

Documentation was found indicating that relatives had consented to the donation of these bodies for the monastery's activities.

The remains have been sent for DNA testing to confirm identities and allow relatives to claim them for traditional funeral rites. The bodies will be temporarily housed at Kuha Sawan Temple in the same district while investigations continue.

 

Kamphaeng Phet Deputy Police Chief, Pol. Col. Anek Chancha, stated that DNA samples from cheek tissue would be matched with relatives for identification.

 

Authorities are also investigating the legality of the body donations and whether any crimes, such as concealment of corpses or violations of donation laws, occurred.

 

This case has drawn nationwide attention, and authorities are committed to prosecuting any wrongdoing to address public concerns, reported Naew Na.

 

-- 2024-11-21

 

 

[kidneyw]

Hub of Loonies.

[RichardColeman]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Documentation was found indicating that relatives had consented to the donation of these bodies for the monastery's activities.

I doubt the dead person wanted to end up there. Probably just a cheap option for the family to save some funeral expenses

[BangkokReady]

10 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I doubt the dead person wanted to end up there. Probably just a cheap option for the family to save some funeral expenses

 

Maybe they received a payment for their "donation".  It sounds like the temple was very keen on having access to corpses for their rituals. 

 

Should shut the place down.

[Peabody]

At least they kept the noise level down for meditation!

[khaowong1]

"violations of donation laws"  what the heck does this even mean?