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Travelling monk murdered in his tent
Phra Phikksu Sanga Kalayano, approximately 50, a Phra Thu
Dong, or a monk who travels throughout the country teaching the Dharmma, was
found dead in his tent next to the Village housing project on Soi
Chaiyaphat. The monk was wearing his habit and had been stabbed many times
with a sharp instrument.
After searching the area, police found a blood stained knife. Police said
there were signs of a struggle and the monk’s few belongings were scattered.
They did not find the monk’s identification card as it had probably been in
his Yam (shoulder bag) which police assume had been stolen. The monk’s body,
along with his scripture books, were held as evidence.
Residents say that the monk’s home was in Srisaket province and he would
return home for the three months of Buddhist Lent. He would then return to
the same area in Pattaya each year. The order of monks to which Phra Phikksu
Sanga Kalayano belonged is highly respected for their devoted asceticism.
He had returned only 3 days before his murder and residents say they had
offered him food and would listen to Dharmma lessons which he gave every
day. Some would ask him for lottery numbers or have their fortunes told.
(Which in Buddhist Canon Law are activities totally forbidden to Buddhist
Priests.)
Police surmise that glue sniffers or crazed teenage druggies, which they say
are endemic in Pattaya, may have murdered the monk. Officers say that no
less than two attackers were involved. Police are searching for the
murderers.
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