Kalasin monks war over pushcart

The disputed handcart, left upturned after the row between two monks, is now under going overdue repairs at Wat Ho Trai in Kalasin. (Photo: Yongyut Phuphuangphet)

KALASIN: A broken handcart sparked a long, loud quarrel between two monks at a temple on Tuesday evening, with each refusing to relinquish it to the other.

The usually tranquil Wat Ho Trai in Kalasin municipality resounded to the sounds of two monks engaged in a heated war of words for at least 30 minutes.

Phra Sangwian, who claimed he needed the pushcart to carry garbage, finally called police.

He told them a fellow monk was drunk and acting crazy, according to police.

The other monk, Phra Phraiwan, told a different story.

He said he had been ordered to repair the cart, and told Phra Sangwian to remove the trash that was in it. He waited for three days, but saw no action.

Eventually, Phra Phraiwan decided to take the cart anyway, removed the trash, mostly dried leaves, and left it on the ground for Phra Sangwian.

This angered Phra Sangwian, who viewed the mound left in front of his sleeping quarters as a "dishonour."

And so the row began. Even the cart became involved, left upturned upon the ground.

The two monks did not calm down until police arrived over half a hour later.

After being placated, Phra Sangwian forgave Phra Phraiwan, who now gets to repair the cart.

In January, police arrested another monk at a popular temple in Yang Talat district in Kalasin province. He was using the monkhood as a cover for his drug dealing.