A cult investigation in Thailand took a horrifying turn as police uncovered 12 mummified bodies allegedly being used for black magic rituals.
Shocked officers raided an encampment on Wednesday following reports that cult devotees were ‘meditating with corpses’ to learn the power of clairvoyance.
Black magic gurus at the Siri Chan Forest Monastery in Kamphaeng Phet claimed the bodies, including the corpse of a child, gave followers supernatural powers.
When authorities breached the hideout nestled among bamboo, they uncovered 17 graves with 12 human bodies – four recently deceased and eight skeletons.
Some of the graves had been lined with banana leaves and salt to preserve the bodies, allegedly so they could be used for cult rituals.
Alleged cult leader Phra Ajarn Saifon had previously claimed the religious group had 69 branches across Thailand.
He also said in interviews that he was capable of other supernatural feats such as swapping bodies and walking through crocodile pits unscathed.
Police Colonel Anek Chansorn of Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Police, said that 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.
‘We will proceed with the prosecution if we find evidence of wrongdoing.’
The police added that documentation was found that relatives of the deceased had donated the bodies to the monastery.
DNA tests were underway to allow the families to claim the cadavers.
Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Office of Buddhism has ordered other activities to cease at the Siri Chan Forest Monastery, found to have been unauthorised.
Officers have cordoned off the area in the meantime.
Mae Mai, a follower of the suspected cult, said: ‘The monastery teaches something original that cannot be learned at ordinary temples.
‘The master, Phra Ajarn Saifon, spent not only days but ten years learning clairvoyance.
‘Practitioners have to spend around six hours meditating and going through specific processes before meditating in front of the corpses.’
Thailand’s population is predominantly Buddhist, but many people hold beliefs outside the religion, such as the worship of local spirits and fear of ghosts.
In May 2022, Thai witchcraft boss Tawee Nanla was arrested after police found 11 dead bodies in his home in Chaiyaphum province.
He was said to have detained several of his followers and forced them to eat his urine and faeces – presented as cures for diseases.
Provincial Gov. Kraisorn Kongchalad said Thawee had at least a dozen followers living with him, while coffins containing bodies were scattered around the house.
Authorities believe the group existed for more than four years without anyone noticing because of the remote location of the leader’s forest house.
While in January of this year, Thai witch doctor Ajarn Man, also an alleged cult leader, sparked outrage as footage emerged of him licking followers’ bottoms in a bizarre ritual meant to bring them good fortune.
Police said they took no action as there were no complaints filed by his alleged victims.