Ban kruat: Villagers recount the moment they encountered Cambodian soldiers crossing the border into Thai territory and firing warning shots.
According to Thai News Agency, villagers in the border district of Ban Kruat, Buriram province, experienced a frightening encounter when more than 10 fully-armed Cambodian soldiers crossed into their territory. The incident occurred as the villagers were out with flashlights catching frogs. The soldiers, upon encountering the villagers, shone flashlights and fired shots, prompting the villagers to abandon their motorcycles and flee for safety.
Mr. Apirak, a villager, shared his harrowing experience of mistaking the soldiers for fellow villagers. He realized the truth only when the soldiers chased him, forcing him to hide in the bushes for over two hours. He confirmed that the confrontation took place about 2 kilometers inside Thai territory.
Following the incident, local security forces assisted in recovering the villagers' abandoned motorcycles. Concerns over potential future clashes have grown, and authorities are currently investigating the reason behind the Cambodian soldiers' unauthorized entry into Thailand via natural border crossings.