A Cambodian man had been killed in Thai territory on Tuesday when he activated a hand grenade, Thai authorities said yesterday.

Sek Saman, deputy director of the Cambodian-Thai border relations office, said authorities had told the Cambodian consul in Thailand’s Sakew province that alleged drug smuggler Saing Socheat, 25, had been killed in Aranyaprathet district while fleeing from Thai police.

Thai authorities said Saing Socheat and his Thai accomplice had been under investigation for illegal drug activities.

When police surrounded the pair, the Thai man had surrendered but Saing Socheat had tried to escape.

He seemingly triggered a grenade while fleeing and was killed in the resulting blast.

Authorities emphasised that Saing Socheat had not been killed by shots fired by police.

The body of Saing Socheat, who lived in Brakeap village, in Battambang province’s Roung Chrey commune, was sent back to Cambodia yesterday and collected by his relatives to be cremated.

Cambodian authorities have separately opened an investigation into the cause of the man’s death.