BURIRAM — 24 August 2026, A newly ordained monk and a senior monk got into a fistfight at a temple in Buriram after arguing over the use of a pickup truck to transport rocks for repairs around the temple grounds.
The newly ordained monk suffered a cut below his left eye that required four stitches and later filed a police report.
Local residents took 21-year-old Anusorn, a monk at Tha Sawang Temple in Krasang subdistrict, Krasang district, to Krasang Hospital after he was injured by a sharp object below his left eye.
Doctors stitched the wound four times before releasing him back to the temple.
When asked about the incident, Anusorn said he had only recently been ordained for the Buddhist Lent period. After noticing several potholes around the temple grounds, he asked an older monk, whom he referred to as “Luang Ta,” for the keys to a temple pickup truck so he could collect rocks to repair the area.
However, the senior monk refused and suggested that he use a handcart instead, saying the distance was not far and that using the truck would waste fuel.
Anusorn admitted that the response angered him. The two then became involved in a heated argument in the middle of the temple grounds.
As tensions boiled over, Anusorn said he lost his temper and threw the first punch at the senior monk’s face. The senior monk then punched him back in self-defense.
The fight quickly turned into a scuffle, shocking relatives and laypeople who witnessed the incident. They intervened and took Anusorn to hospital after seeing blood covering his face.
In addition to the wound below his eye, Anusorn suffered abrasions on his right arm. He said he had since filed a police report at Krasang Police Station.
The senior monk, identified as 50-year-old Santathu Worawuttho, had bruising on his face.
He said he had been a monk for 11 years and believed his suggestion to use a handcart was reasonable.
Instead, he said Anusorn responded angrily, saying, “It’s not your truck. Why are you so protective of it?”
Santathu said Anusorn attacked him first, prompting him to put a rock in his hand and punch Anusorn in the face. The two then became involved in a physical fight until residents stepped in to separate them.
The temple abbot and senior monks are now preparing to establish a disciplinary committee to investigate both monks and determine appropriate action under monastic rules and Buddhist discipline.