'For security, not intended to involve religion': Thailand clarifies on Lord Vishnu statue demolition near border

New Delhi: Thailand has issued a clarification after India raised concerns over the removal of a Lord Vishnu statue near the Thailand–Cambodia border, stating that the structure was neither a recognised religious site nor demolished for religious reasons. Videos shared on social media showed a Vishnu statue, reportedly installed in 2014, being uprooted with a backhoe loader by Thai military personnel in a disputed border area earlier this week. TV9 English could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.

Addressing the criticism, the Thai-Cambodian border press centre said the demolition was “not intended to involve religion or beliefs” and was carried out solely for area management and security purposes after Thai forces regained control of the location, according to The Week.

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Thai authorities said the statue was a later installation without official recognition as a religious structure. Its removal, they added, was aimed at preventing the presence of symbols that could escalate tensions in the sensitive border zone.

Thailand also claimed the statue stood in the Chong An Ma area along the disputed frontier and was perceived by Thai authorities as a marker placed by Cambodian soldiers to assert sovereignty over territory claimed by Thailand. Emphasising its position, Thailand said it respects all religions equally, including Hinduism, and highlighted the deep historical and cultural links shared across the region.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded to the incident, saying such actions hurt the sentiments of believers across the world and urged Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy, ANI reported.

Cambodia accused Thailand of demolishing the Vishnu statue inside Cambodian territory. A provincial government spokesperson claimed the structure was located in the An Ses area of Preah Vihear province, according to AFP.

Cambodian officials said the demolition occurred about 100 metres from the border, while mapping data indicated the statue was positioned a few hundred metres from the boundary line.

The episode comes amid renewed hostilities between Thai and Cambodian forces over their long-disputed border, clashes that have reportedly killed dozens and displaced nearly a million people, AFP said.

Despite ongoing accusations over damage to civilians, heritage sites and religious structures, officials from both countries have begun a fresh round of talks at a border checkpoint in Thailand.

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(With inputs from AFP, PTI and ANI)

TV9 English has not independently verified the authenticity of this information.