Crime Trang Village Chief Gunned Down in Late-Night Ambush

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A well-known village headman was brutally killed in the early hours of 3 August after being ambushed outside his home by an assailant armed with a military-grade assault rifle. The shocking incident has left the local community reeling and prompted a major police investigation.

 

The victim, 57-year-old Mr Bandu also known as “Kamnan Len,” was the headman of Na Wong Subdistrict and president of the Village Headmen and Subdistrict Chiefs’ Association in Huai Yot District. He was shot dead at approximately 01:05 while parking his vehicle in front of his house, following a return from personal errands.

 

Pol Lt Col Supotpong Chuaydu, the duty investigator at Huai Yot Police Station, was alerted to the incident and immediately reported to his superiors. Senior police officers from Trang Provincial Police, Region 9 Investigation Division and the Crime Suppression Division, along with forensic officers and rescue volunteers, responded to the scene.

 

At the location, officers discovered a black Ford Ranger pickup truck riddled with 15 bullet holes, concentrated on the driver’s side door. The shots were fired from an M16-style assault rifle. Mr Bandu sustained gunshot wounds to his right cheekbone, torso, and hands. He was rushed to Huai Yot Hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.

 

Forensic officers collected 15 spent M16 cartridges at the scene. Investigators also found signs of a possible observation site, a blue plastic chair and a half-burnt mosquito coil near an abandoned market next to the victim’s home, surrounded by barbed-wire fencing. Police believe the gunman waited in hiding before executing the attack.

 

CCTV footage from the area captured the chilling moment the suspect, dressed in black and with their face concealed, emerged from behind the abandoned building and opened fire as the victim reversed his vehicle into the driveway.

 

Initial investigations suggest the motive may be linked to personal conflicts or retaliation from criminal networks angered by the victim’s involvement in anti-drug campaigns. Police have expanded their investigation and are reviewing security camera footage along potential escape routes. The victim’s wife and relatives have been interviewed to establish any known threats or disputes.

 

A close aide to Kamnan Len told reporters that the victim had never expressed concerns about enemies or threats. “He was soft-spoken, never confrontational, loved by everyone. He didn’t even drink,” said the assistant. “He was our pillar. Without him, we have no one to turn to.”

 

Pol Maj Gen Pattharawit Keetmotaneeyakul, Chief of Trang Provincial Police, confirmed that investigators are pursuing several leads, with evidence from the scene, including bullet casings and trajectory analysis, under review. He noted that the case involved premeditation and careful planning.

 

“We’re focusing on possible personal and professional disputes, especially stemming from his efforts to suppress wrongdoing in the district,” he said. “There’s a real possibility that someone affected by his work took extreme measures to silence him.”

 

Authorities are also exploring whether there was an informant or accomplice who signalled the attacker. While no arrests have been made, police are confident they will identify and apprehend the suspect.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-08-04