A move to a boarding school due to a gang beating was forced after a 13-year-old Thai schoolboy who used vapes broke an elder’s e-cigarette.

In Thailand, a 13-year-old schoolboy who regularly used e-cigarettes has been transferred to a boarding school after repeated attacks by a 16-year-old. The reason for the aggression was that the younger student broke the older one’s e-cigarette. The decision came after a two-hour meeting at Watjunprasit School in Ban Phai district, said school principal Satsilp Phaisun.

The Grade 5 student, identified as Oam, has been transferred to another school at the request of his mother to avoid further confrontations with the offending student. The mother and son will have to leave the rented apartment as the assailant, a member of a local gang, lives in the neighborhood.

The meeting at the school was attended by administration representatives, psychologists, and local education authorities. The meeting was organized after videos of Oam being beaten appeared online. The video shows him on his knees. The reason for the attack was that he allegedly used and broke the e-cigarette of a 16-year-old named Lek. The latest clip was published on Wednesday.

The school principal assured that Oam would be safe at the boarding school in Ban Hat district as outsiders are not allowed to enter there. The attacker is a former student of Watjungprasit School. The victim suffered bruises, but serious injuries were avoided.

The incident is further evidence of the widespread use of e-cigarettes among teenagers, which has raised serious concerns among authorities. Thai Prime Minister Peathongtharn Shinawatra recently called for strong national measures to combat the illegal sale of vape devices.

The 40-year-old mother of the injured boy said she was shocked when she saw the video, as her son had never told her about the attacks or his addiction. According to Oam, he broke the 16-year-old’s e-cigarette, and he demanded 300 baht in compensation for the device and another 300 baht in interest. Unable to pay, the boy was subjected to a beating. The mother expressed hope that her son would be able to kick the bad habit and finish high school at the boarding school.

Lek’s half-sister, whose name is Paeng, revealed that his biological parents died when he was a child. She also added that Lek started using drugs at the age of 14 and was too aggressive to listen to the advice of his elders. This incident vividly illustrates the seriousness of the problem of teenage vaping and drug abuse in Thailand, which requires a comprehensive approach from the state and society. Oam’s case underscores the need for greater control over the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and prevention efforts in schools. It has generated widespread public outcry in Thailand, drawing attention to juvenile delinquency and the need to protect children from violence. Oam’s story also raises questions about the availability of psychological support for children facing bullying and violence.

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