UDON THANI: Two brothers have accused members of a drug gang allegedly led by local police of assaulting them over a drug-related debt and taking video of the incident to intimidate others.
Anucha Deenoi, 22, and his brother Witthaya, 28, on Saturday gave their accounts of the incident to Pol Col Witthaya Laothong, deputy chief of Udon Thani police.
Video showing three men assaulting the brothers was posted on social media recently and drew strong public criticism of the assailants.
Mr Anucha, a resident of tambon Mumon in Muang district, said he sought help from Pol Col Witthaya after seeing the clip online as he feared for his safety.
He told police that he and his elder brother had been lured to meet three members of a drug gang in a paddy field in Nong Kae village of tambon Nong Nakham on May 24.
The men were seeking payment of 6,000 baht from Mr Witthaya from sales of speed pills. When he told them he had been unable to collect the money from his customers, the trio began beating him with baseball bats, said Mr Anucha. He fled but was quickly caught and beaten as well.
The two brothers were assaulted for about one hour and were unaware that video was being taken until Mr Anucha saw it online.
He admitted that he and his brother had sold speed pills for the gang, known locally as "Ratcha Satan". The drugs, he said, belonged to local police in Udon Thani. They would not be arrested if they sold the drugs for the gang.
Anucha said Ratcha Satan was widely known among drug users and dealers in three tambons: Mumon, Nakha and Ban Khao. Other drug dealers in the area often got arrested but those linked to Ratcha Satan escaped punishment, he said.
Pol Col Phumwit Vetkama, superintendent of Muang police station, said a police investigation was under way to find those involved in the drug trade and the assault.
