Journalism of Courage
An Indian man has been arrested and charged after he was seen threatening the public with what appeared to be a handgun in Bangkok’s busy Siam Square shopping area. Police later confirmed the object was a pistol-shaped cigarette lighter.
The incident took place around 4 pm on Monday local time outside the Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square in Pathum Wan district, according to the Bangkok Post. Police officers responding to the scene found the man, identified as Sahil Ram Thadani, 41, behaving erratically and waving the lighter at pedestrians.
A video shared by local media showed Thadani walking around, shouting loudly and pointing the gun-shaped object at members of the public, causing alarm.
https://twitter.com/__Amoxicillin_/status/1979551748026200449 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsSecurity guards and police attempted to subdue Thadani, who ignored their instructions and continued to make threats. The Bangkok Post reported that officers later confirmed the item in his hand was a cigarette lighter designed to look like a firearm.
In the video’s second half, Thadani is seen sitting on the ground as guards move in to arrest him. Despite repeated calls to stand up, he refused to comply, forcing security personnel to drag him away. He can be heard crying and asking for police assistance.
Thadani was taken to Pathum Wan police station, where he was charged with threatening behaviour and causing a public disturbance, police told the Bangkok Post.
Authorities said his erratic conduct was believed to have been triggered by hallucinations after ingesting cannabis.
A police report, cited by the newspaper, also revealed that Thadani had previously served as the director of three companies in India, all of which had since ceased operations.
