Shock at Phunphin: Man Brutally Beaten by Station Guards

Picture courtesy of กุ๊ก คลองน้อย Facebook

A family evening turned into a nightmare for a 57-year-old man in Surat Thani, as station security guards viciously assaulted him simply for taking a rest on a platform. The incident, which has sparked public outrage, occurred at Phunphin Station on 15 June.

Yutthaphon, recovering from a family dinner, was left with severe bruising and a head wound requiring stitches after the guards confronted him. The altercation began around 9:45 PM as he awaited his 1 AM train to Nakhon Si Thammarat. Exhausted, Yutthaphon decided to lie down on the platform, unaware of the impending chaos.

According to a family member, the trouble started when two guards ordered Yutthaphon to move. When he didn’t comply, a heated argument ensued, culminating in the guards forcibly pinning him down and beating him. Remarkably, a third guard intervened, arranging for Yutthaphon to be taken to hospital before he returned to the station.

The family only learned of the attack through a video call the next morning, prompting them to rush him back to Surat Thani for further treatment. Photos posted online showed his battered face and the guards kneeling in apology, igniting demands for justice.

On 7 July, Veeris Ammarapala, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor, ordered an investigation. “The guards claimed Yutthaphon was intoxicated and lying in a disabled area, leading to the confrontation,” he explained. Both guards are now suspended, and their employer has compensated the family with 60,000 baht (approximately £1,300).

Veeris stressed that if the guards are found culpable, penalties would follow. In a suspicious twist, the station’s CCTV system malfunctioned, providing no footage of the event. Additional checks on security cameras have been mandated.

Yutthaphon’s family has filed a formal complaint, determined to prevent such violent incidents in the future. Public sentiment is strong, with many calling for enhanced accountability measures and improved training for security personnel.

This distressing event has highlighted concerns over station security practices, with the investigation now closely watched by the nation.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-08