Police in Thailand have discovered 12 mummified bodies at a black magic sect where followers allegedly meditated with corpses to gain supernatural powers.
The grim discovery was made on Wednesday during a raid at the Siri Chan Forest Monastery in Kamphaeng Phet, where cult devotees were reportedly seeking clairvoyant abilities through rituals with the dead.
Among the bodies uncovered was the corpse of a child, with authorities finding both recently deceased remains and skeletons.
Officers found 17 graves at the encampment, with some bodies carefully preserved using banana leaves and salt for ceremonial purposes.
The grim discovery was made on Wednesday during a raid at the Siri Chan Forest Monastery in Kamphaeng Phet (Pictured: National Park)
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Police Colonel Anek Chansorn said officers are investigating how the bodies were transported to the monastery.
“An investigation has been started. If we find something isn’t right, we will investigate them for charges of hiding corpses,” he said.
Documentation was found showing that relatives of the deceased had donated the bodies to the monastery.
DNA tests are currently being conducted to allow families to claim the remains.
The Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Office of Buddhism has ordered all activities at the unauthorised Siri Chan Forest Monastery to cease.
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Officials worked through the night at the cordoned-off site, uncovering evidence of cult activity.
The discovery included four recently deceased bodies and eight skeletons, all of which were found buried within the bamboo-surrounded hideout.
The alleged cult leader, Phra Ajarn Saifon, had previously claimed extraordinary supernatural abilities, including the power to swap bodies and walk through crocodile pits unharmed.
A follower named Mae Mai defended the monastery’s practices, saying: “The monastery teaches something original that cannot be learned at ordinary temples.”
According to Mae Mai, the master spent ten years learning the art of clairvoyance.
“Practitioners have to spend around six hours meditating and going through specific processes before meditating in front of the corpses,” Mae Mai explained.
While Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, many citizens maintain beliefs outside mainstream religion, including spirit worship and ghost-related practices.
While Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, many citizens maintain beliefs outside mainstream religion, including spirit worship and ghost-related practices (Stock)
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The monastery’s activities have now drawn scrutiny from authorities, who are investigating potential charges related to the handling of human remains.
This is not the first time Thai authorities have encountered such black magic sects.
In May 2022, police arrested witchcraft boss Tawee Nanla after discovering 11 dead bodies in his home in Chaiyaphum province.
Nanla allegedly forced his followers to consume his urine and faeces, claiming they were cures for diseases.
Provincial Governor Kraisorn Kongchalad reported that Nanla had at least a dozen followers living with him, with coffins containing bodies scattered throughout his house.
The remote location of Nanla’s forest house allowed the group to operate undetected for more than four years.
In a separate case this January, a Thai witch doctor known as Ajarn Man sparked controversy for performing unusual rituals with followers.
Police took no action in Ajarn Man’s case, citing a lack of formal complaints from alleged victims.