NAKHON SAWAN - A man was shot and wounded by a policeman while illegally fishing in a restricted zone of the Bung Boraphet lake in Muang district on Tuesday afternoon.
The man, identified as Thien Luangwiset, was admitted to Nakhon Sawan Hospital for emergency treatment.
Pol Lt Kachornsak Maneepong, an investigator of Nong Pling police manning a guard post at Bung Boraphet, said he went out on the lake in a speed boat with fisheries officials at the request of Mek Maklan, chief of the provincial fisheries conservation office.
He was told that a gang of poachers was operating in Zone A, where fishing is prohibited.
About 6pm, they spotted eight boats and approached to round up the gang members.
According to Pol Lt Kachornsak, the driver of one of the boats, Mr Thien, raised the boat's long-tail propellor our of the water as they approached, threatening them with it. He fired his shotgun at the boat's engine, but the shot ricocheted and hit Mr Thien.
He said Mr Thien was trying to escape and he acted in self defence.
The poachers were from Pluak Sung village in tambon Phra Non of Muang district, Pol Lt Kachornsak said. The were sometimes carried guns and grenades to protect themselves from the authorities.
Mr Thien was charged with fishing in a prohibited zone.
A committee had been set up to investigate the incident.