One dead and two injured in day of protest violence Published: 28/01/2014 at 07:05 PM

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Two men were injured in protest violence, while an anti-government demonstrator was found shot and tortured to death and bomb went off at a rally-leader's house on Tuesday.

According to a report from the Democrat Party-owned BlueSky television channel, an anti-government protester was wounded by a gunshot as around 500 People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) members rallied in front of the Army Club on Tuesday afternoon.

The PDRC was holding a rally outside the club against the Feb 2 election. Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the Election Commission were holding talks inside to decide the fate of the poll.

A Bangkok Post reporter confirmed that shots were heard about 2.40pm and a man was hit in the leg by a bullet. The injured protester was sent to Ramathibodi Hospital. The gunman was arrested by protest guards and beaten while trying to escape vengeful protesters, then sent to Rajavithi Hospital, it was reported.

BlueSky TV showed pictures of the alleged gunman's motorcycle and said it was registered under a policeman's name. The channel also showed pictures of a Bang Sue motorcycle taxi queue jacket said to have been discarded by the gunman as he fled.

Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kongphet Phetkanha of the Metropolitan Police Division 2 was allegedly attacked by protest guards after refusing a search. He then fired a shot in self-defence and was beaten by protesters, discarding his jacket as he fled, reports said. Photo by Patipat Janthong

According to a message on the police spokesman's Facebook page, the man who was attacked by protest guards was Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kongphet Phetkanha of the Metropolitan Police Division 2.

"Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kongphet was taking pictures of the demonstrators. A protest guard later approached him and demanded a search but he refused," the message said.

"The guard told his colleagues to beat him. The officer fired a shot at them in self-defence. One of the guards was wounded. The guards beat Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kongphet until he was seriously injured."

Boonthiang Kam-im was found shot dead near Wat Samian Nari on Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014. (Post Today photo)

In a separate incident a man believed to be an anti-government protester was found shot dead near Wat Samian Nari in Chatuchak district on Tuesday morning.

Pol Lt Pirapat Sutthasena, a duty officer at Pracha Chuen police station, said he received a report of the body about 6.30am.

The man was identified as Boonthiang Kam-im, a 41-year-old Chaiyaphum resident. He was wearing a black shirt that read "fight for democracy" and a wristband bearing the national flag's colours.

He had been shot three times in the chest, while his body was covered with bruises and marks indicating that he had been tied up.

Pol Lt Pirapat said it was likely the man was tortured before he was killed and his body dumped in a deserted area. He said police were investigating whether the murder was connected to anti-government protests led by the PDRC.

Meanwhile, the house of PDRC spokesman Samran Rodphet was attacked early Tuesday by a bomb that damaged the building but caused no injuries.

Mr Samran said in an interview with BlueSky TV that the attack on Khu Bon Road in Ram-intra occurred at 3am. The explosion shattered seven glass windows and damaged his car's radiator. He was at the Ratchadamnoen rally site at the time, but was informed of the blast by his wife.

Police examined the scene this morning. It is not yet known how many people were involved in the attack.

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