Law
Local Journalist Injured in Altercation at Ban Phai Police Station
A local reporter in Khon Kaen province is pursuing legal action after sustaining a head injury during an encounter with a deputy police chief.
On August 8, 2026, Khaosod Online reported that a local journalist, Mr. Trithep, was hospitalized after an incident at the Ban Phai Police Station in Khon Kaen province. Mr. Trithep, who manages the 'Khao Khon Ban Phai' news page, sustained a laceration to his right eyebrow requiring 12 stitches, along with minor scratches on his neck.
According to the report, the incident occurred on the evening of August 7 when the journalist visited the station to attend a local event. He stated that a deputy police chief, whom he knew, called him over for a conversation, which escalated into a physical altercation. Mr. Trithep alleged that the officer locked his neck, resulting in the injury. He further claimed that the officer dismissed the incident as a joke. Following the event, Police Colonel Rakchat Rueangcharoen, the superintendent of Ban Phai Police Station, visited the journalist in the hospital to inquire about the situation. Mr. Trithep has expressed his intention to file a formal police complaint once he is discharged.
For residents and visitors, this incident highlights an ongoing internal investigation within the local police force. While the superintendent has acknowledged the situation, the specific circumstances leading to the physical contact and the official response from the police department remain to be confirmed through the formal legal process.