Indian national among five killed in Bangkok gang shootout

A 42-year-old Indian National was killed in crossfire during a shootout between rival gangs in Bangkok on the night of October 7, Sunday.

Four other people were injured, according to local media reports. 

Gakhrejr Dheeraj, who was a tourist in Bangkok, died after he was taken to the hospital. 

The incident happened on a street behind Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel, where tourist coaches were parked. The hotel is connected to the Watergate Pavillion Mall, which is about a 15-minute walk from Platinum Fashion Mall and Siam Paragon Mall.

 

The other four injured people were a 28-year-old Lao tourist, another Indian tourist, along with two Thai men.

Photo courtesy: Watergate Pavillion Mall
Photo courtesy: Watergate Pavillion Mall

Some of the victims were part of a group of Indian tourists who had just had dinner at Watergate Pavillion Mall, said Bangkok's police major general. 

The group was waiting for their bus at the parking lot when two groups of young men emerged from a nearby snooker club into an alley just beside the parking lot, said police major general Senit Samararn Samruajkit.

A fight began, which quickly escalated into an armed battle.

According to witnesses, around 20 men armed with pistols, knives and sticks ran from the club into the street. Three of them also opened fire. 

When the police arrived at the scene, the gang members fled and none of them were apprehended, The Bangkok Post said in a report. Police are still hunting for the group of teenagers.