PATHUM THANI -- A shot was fired from the compound of Wat Phra Dhammakaya on Thursday, striking a patrolling army vehicle, but causing no injuries.
Hundreds of officials were ordered to clear Gate 4 of the temple to allow police to investigate the shooting, but they were met by a wave of monks and followers in a brief skirmish that left one official slightly injured.
Staff of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) accompanied by a company each of soldiers and riot police from Sing Buri province tried to break through Gate 4 at about 1.30pm. Some officials brought a bolt cutter to open the locked gate near the Khlong Sam canal.
About 200 monks and followers of the temple then confronted the officials and that led to a minor clash that lasted about 30 minutes.
The officials retreated briefly and a DSI official was found to have suffered a cut to his neck.
Some military officers then sought negotiations and approached the monks and followers who were chanting prayers at high volume through loudspeakers on the bridge across the canal.
Later DSI officials, soldiers and riot police moved back to about 200 metres from the line of monks and followers.
The DSI said the patrol vehicle was hit by a bullet on a local road near the gate in the morning and the windshield was cracked.
Officials said the crack was the size of a 10-baht coin and was caused by a fairly high velocity projectile, possibly a metal bullet from an air gun.
Authorities wanted to check the bridge where temple followers set up containers and awnings to block aerial surveillance.
Temple followers refused to withdraw and pull down the awnings or let officials inspect the bridge, DSI said.
Also on Thursday, temple spokesman Phra Sanitwong Wuthiwangso surrendered to the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok and was later released on bail.
He is charged with defaming the DSI, inciting unrest and putting false information into computer systems.
