LOEI - A 53-year-old drunken monk was beaten by an angry crowd after he forcibly took a four-year-old girl from her grandmother in Na Duang district on Thursday night, saying he wanted the child to be his wife.
The assault took place in front of Wat Santisukharam at Huay Paduk village in tambon Na Dok Tai of Na Duang district, said Pol Col Chatthong Thurathong, chief of Na Duang police station. The incident was reported around 10pm on Thursday.
Police rushed to the temple and found the monk, identified as Phra Thongsuk Chuabua, had been apprehended by residents. The monk, who was under the influence of alcohol, sustained facial injuries and bruising to his body, inflicted by the angry crowd, Thai media reported on Friday.
Ms Supatra, 25, mother of the rescued child, told police that Phra Thongsuk went to her house on Thursday night while her daughter was playing with the grandmother and other relatives in front of the house.
The monk suddenly grabbed the girl’s hands and hugged her. The relatives became angry and asked the monk to leave.
Instead of ceasing his action, the monk snatched the girl from her grandmother and ran off with her in his arms toward the temple, said Ms Supatra, who came out from the house after hearing the noise. She shouted for help from neighbours.
The monk fell to the ground while running. Relatives tried to take the girl back from him, but he refused to let go of her. The gathering crowd became angry and people began hitting him, while others called the police.
The girl had minor injuries when finally relesed from the monk's hands. Phra Thongsuk told the girl’s grandmother that he wanted the child to be his wife, Thai media reported.
The monk was defrocked by the temple abbot and held in police custody for legal action.