Chaiyaphum –
A man Thai authorities described as a cult leader, who claimed himself to be the father of all gods in all religions, was arrested at a raid of his residence in the Khon San district of Chaiyaphum province on Sunday, May 8th, after reportedly forcing his followers to eat feces and drinking urine and phlegm as a cure to several illnesses.
Upon the raid, 11 dead bodies were found inside coffins at the scene. The spiritual leader, who was an elderly man with long gray hair and beard, told the officials that they were waiting to go to heaven. Only five of the bodies were identified with death certificates. The legal name of the man was not immediately released.
The “father of all gods” was immediately taken to a nearby police station. However, the process was chaotic as a group of his followers, numbering about fifty, attempted to stop the police from taking him away. Initially, the cult leader was charged with invading public land (as his residence was located in a public area), organizing an illegal medical center, and violating the Emergency Decree in terms of hosting mass gatherings.
Chaiyaphum governor Kraisorn Kongchalad revealed that the man had been treating local residents for four years with unacceptable treatments to cure diseases. Kraisorn said officials had to arrest him before the number of local believers would increase.
The incident has gone viral on Thai social media sparking widespread discussion this morning and bringing attention to rural medical practices and so-called shamans in Thailand.
Photo Courtesy: Dailynews
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