Man Searching for Clams Discovers Decapitated Buddha Head Underwater
A clam diver in Buriram discovered a decapitated Buddha head stuffed in a burlap sack underwater, prompting police to launch an investigation and seek experts to identify the artifact's origin and track down those responsible for its theft.
A man searching for clams made a startling discovery when he stepped on a sack underwater in a Buriram water reservoir, only to find it contained a decapitated Buddha head.
At 12:00 PM on May 24, 2026, Deputy Investigator Karun Saengarun of Nang Rong Police Station received a report from residents about a submerged Buddha head found in the Nong Tharok water reservoir in Nang Rong District, Buriram. He immediately coordinated with rescue officials and diving teams to investigate.
The scene was a large raw water storage reservoir used for waterworks production, spanning over 50 rai. Tawan, a 29-year-old local resident, waited to point out where the Buddha head was discovered and excitedly recounted his experience:
"I was diving for clams in the water reservoir as usual. While wading through the water, my foot kicked against something in a burlap sack. At first, I thought it was a discarded durian shell bag, but when I opened it, I was horrified to see it was a Buddha head. Shocked and afraid of desecrating something sacred, I didn't dare bring it to shore. I rushed out of the water and immediately called the police."
The diving team successfully retrieved the old fertilizer sack from the water in just 10 minutes. Inside, they found a Buddha head approximately 30 centimeters in height and width, weighing about 30 kilograms, with clear marks showing the top had been cut away.
Police documented the discovery with photographs before transferring the Buddha head to Nang Rong Police Station. They are coordinating with specialists from the Fine Arts Department to determine the artifact's historical period and which temple it was stolen from, so they can pursue criminal charges against the perpetrators.
