Indian tourist killed, 2 injured in shootout in Thailand
A 42-year-old Indian tourist was killed and two others seriously injured in a shootout between two rival gangs in Bangkok, Thai Police said. The shooting took place yesterday on a street behind Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel in Ratchathewi district, where tourist coaches were parked. Gakhrejr Dheeraj, the Indian, and a 28-year-old Lao tourist Keovongsa Thonekeo died at a hospital; other injured are undergoing treatment.
Injured people include two Indians, two Thais, one Lao
The five people injured in the crossfire were two Thais, two Indians, and one Lao. All were taken to a nearby hospital, Bangkok Post reported, quoting police officials. The Indians were a part of a group of tourists who had just had their dinner at an Indian restaurant in the Watergate Pavillion mall and were waiting for their bus at the parking lot.
While tourists were waiting for bus, crossfire between gangs began
While all the tourists were waiting for the bus, two groups comprising around 20 young men, armed with pistols, knives, and sticks, emerged from a nearby snooker club into an alley just beside the parking lot. They began a fight that quickly escalated into an armed battle, said Police Major General Senit Samararn Samruajkit. Reportedly, three men also opened fire, said the onlookers.
Gang members fled the scene, spent shells of rifles found
The gang members fled as the police arrived at the scene, and none of them could be apprehended. Police are yet to identify the types of rifles used, but spent shells from the AK-47 assault rifle were found at the scene.
