KHON KAEN – A 61-year-old man was brutally killed during a drunken altercation at a traditional rocket festival in Chum Phae district on Monday afternoon. The victim, identified as Jarae Boonmang, was found bludgeoned to death with a wooden stick and partially buried on a village road.

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Authorities responded to the scene in Ban Lang Nonchat village after receiving reports of the attack around 4:00 PM. Police discovered Jarae’s body lying face-up with severe head wounds, partially covered in dirt. Investigators found a bloodstained wooden stick approximately 30 meters away, along with evidence suggesting the body had been dragged 20 meters before being abandoned.

The alleged attacker, 51-year-old Sombat Naewprasert, was apprehended at his nearby home while heavily intoxicated. Witnesses reported both men had been drinking together since morning as part of local “Bun Bang Fai” (Rocket Festival) celebrations when a verbal dispute turned violent. Though neighbors initially separated them, the confrontation reignited when Jarae followed Sombat home.

Last week in Isaan – Northeast rural Thailand – locals celebrated the Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival. They shoot locally made rockets into the air. It's quite a spectacle. Many videos show the rockets soaring high into the clouds. They kind of ignore the landings. pic.twitter.com/ZENrCX3lz0

— Haptic Hal (@TravelsCharlie) May 27, 2025

Police Colonel Rakchat Rueangcharoen confirmed Sombat, who has no drug history but receives psychiatric treatment, acted in a drunken rage—first punching the victim, then striking him repeatedly with firewood before attempting to bury the body. The suspect will undergo medical evaluation as authorities prepare criminal charges.

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The tragic incident has cast a shadow over the annual festival, prompting calls for moderation during alcohol-fueled celebrations. Investigations continue as the community mourns the loss.

-Thailand News (TN)