Monks behaving badly - abbot caught attacking dogs, claims fellow monk

Phra Atikarnbadikittipong Sumankhalo, 52, of a famous temple in Chachoengsao province, is in hot water after allegedly attacking and killing a dog.

The abbot throwing a dog in the Bang Pakong river. Photo by Sanook

The claims against the abbot spread fast when pictures of him was uploaded on online and followed up by visit to the police, reports Sanook.

According to a fellow monk Phra Supachai, he saw the abbot in question take a stick to a dog and kill it.

But according to the abbot he is a good monk and knows all about sin. He admitted that a dog did die but it was not intentional.

The abbot said he picked up a broom in order to stop the two dogs who fighting and knew one of the dogs died. However, he wasn't sure whether it died from being hit by the broom he was holding or by a bite from another animal.

The dead dog was later burred by the side of Wat Hua Sai Temple in the same province.

Asked about the images of throwing a dog in the river he said that was not a sin at all. He was helping the dog that had fleas and ticks - the dog would swim to the side and shake off the infestation.

In a latest development the abbot has claimed defamation at the hands of the monk who posted the pictures and made comments about him online.

The other monk said what he saw was a sin and disgusting.

Police are to interview both the abbot and the poster of the clip to see if there is a case to answer either way.

Source: Sanook, ThaiVisa