Photos of a disabled beggar allegedly being attacked by a BTS security guard at National Stadium station have caused an online uproar since being posted on popular forum site Pantip.com.
An anonymous user whose friend reportedly witnessed the attack posted the photos, saying that the unnamed victim was assaulted for being too slow to leave the platform when asked.
Here’s a translation by the Bangkok Post of the user’s description of incident:
My friend saw a security guard banging his stick on the rail of the stairs and yelling at the man to get out of the station. However, due to his disability he was not as quick as the guard wanted, so the guard beat him with the stick several times on his back and stomach.
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My friend reprimanded the guard for his treatment. Several foreigners who witnessed the attack tried to escort the victim down the stairs but the guard stopped them saying “Don’t help him; he can do it by himself.”
When I got to scene, I saw him in tears, shivering and scared.
I don’t understand how someone could be so brutal to a helpless man.
The Pantip user said that the victim told him he begs for money in the area because he doesn’t have any other options. He said that he would like to have a job but that it is difficult because of his disability.
An outpouring of angry posts – and some defending the guard – ensued on the online forum.
This isn’t the first alleged BTS guard beating that has made the news this year.
An Irish expat who reportedly became aggressive when he was barred from entering Phrompong station with balloons (true story), was clubbed several times by a security guard in an incident that was caught on video.
