Hundreds Protest Shrine Owner's Knife Threat at School
Over 100 residents protested at a shrine owner's home in Satun Province after she allegedly brandished a machete and threatened female students at an adjacent school on July 1. The dispute stems from months of complaints over school noise,
More than 100 community representatives, led by subdistrict chief Ariya Minniphran and village headmen, gathered on July 3, 2026, to surround and protest the residence of Phu Phya Nak 9 Heads Shrine, which sits adjacent to Ban Wang Pring School in Tha Reua Subdistrict, Tha Pae District, Satun Province. They demanded immediate relocation following an incident on July 1 around 5 a.m., when the shrine owner allegedly entered school grounds brandishing a machete and verbally threatened female students during early morning volleyball practice. Security footage captured the knife-wielding incident clearly, and students reported the woman threatened to shoot them if they returned.
School principal Somchai Madangga revealed the dispute has been ongoing for months. Previous community protests occurred in late 2025 over noise complaints regarding school activities such as sports training, loudspeaker announcements, and Islamic prayer preparations. Despite the school's attempts to compromise—redirecting speakers, reducing volume, and suspending morning announcements—the neighbor continued harassing behavior including throwing rocks at the girls' dormitory and setting off firecrackers during kindergarten naptime. Somchai stated the students have become anxious and unable to focus, with plans underway to erect screening barriers along the 165-meter boundary and permanently seal a side gate, while filing complaints with the education ministry.
The shrine owner's female partner admitted walking into the school with a machete but denied any intent to harm, claiming she only wanted to scold the children about the noise. She cited her bedridden mother's need for rest and accused the principal of violating previous noise-control agreements, which caused her stress. The protest atmosphere remained tense as residents refused to accept intimidation of students. To prevent escalation, Ta Pae Police invited the couple for further questioning at the station. Once authorities removed the couple from the scene, the nearly 100 gathered residents dispersed peacefully without serious incident.
