Now Reading: Former Thai MP arrested for shooting local official and driver
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Former Thai MP arrested for shooting local official and driver
Police in Thailand have arrested former MP Chalong Reawraeng, 71, for allegedly shooting and wounding a senior local official and his driver at a government office in Nonthaburi province. The attack on…
The Story in Brief
Police in Thailand have arrested former MP Chalong Reawraeng, 71, for allegedly shooting and wounding a senior local official and his driver at a government office in Nonthaburi province. The attack on Monday (August 10) wounded Thongchai Yenprasert, president of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation, and his driver, police chief Dejrapee Kongdee told AFP. Thongchai was seriously injured, the police chief said, while the driver’s condition is unknown.
The incident comes days after a 14-year-old student killed his grandparents and six others at Debsirin Nonthaburi School before shooting himself. The Hindu reports that Thailand has roughly 10 million firearms in circulation, one for every seven people. Officials have promised stricter gun laws since Friday’s shooting, but previous pledges have not prevented repeated shootings, the outlet adds. Local media have suggested a private dispute may have motivated the former MP’s alleged attack, but authorities have not confirmed a motive.
The Indian Opinion
Thailand’s two shootings in one week, a school rampage and now a former MP allegedly firing at a government office, again expose the gap between official pledges and action on guns. The public is told stricter laws are coming, as they were after earlier massacres. Yet 10 million firearms remain in circulation, roughly one for every seven Thais. Will the Nonthaburi attacks finally force parliament to pass the reforms it keeps promising, or will this be another round of statements without change? That is the only test that matters.
Sources (2): timesnownews.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
