SURIN – A Thai border patrol soldier was found dead in an apparent suicide Friday, hours after he opened fire on villagers in Surin province, leaving two wounded. The soldier’s body was discovered in a forested area approximately 150 meters from the scene of the shooting in Karb Choeng district.

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The incident occurred Thursday night when the soldier, armed with an M-16 assault rifle, fired at local residents. One of the victims, Anuwat Singchai, suffered a gunshot wound to his right lung and was hospitalized in stable condition at Surin Provincial Hospital.

Relatives revealed that the soldier had recently requested leave to visit family but was denied permission by his commanding officer. Described as typically mild-mannered, he was said to have struggled with depression since childhood after being orphaned and raised by relatives. His recent deployment to Prasat Ta Kwai in Phanom Dong Rak district—a flashpoint in last month’s clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces—reportedly exacerbated his distress.

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Following the ceasefire, he was reassigned to Ban Khern Kaew base in Karb Choeng district but remained restricted from visiting his family in Bua Chet. After the shooting, he briefly hid in a nearby home before fleeing into the woods, where authorities later found his body.

Lt-Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the Second Army Region, acknowledged the psychological toll of combat on soldiers, stating that battlefield stress can have lasting effects. He has ordered military medical teams to evaluate troops after combat exposure.

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The army has not yet confirmed a motive for the attack but is continuing its investigation. The incident has raised concerns over mental health support for soldiers stationed in high-tension border areas.

-Thailand News (TN)