SEPTEMBER 22: Three farmers were killed and four others severely injured when they were all struck by a bolt of lightning while planting rice at 3:30pm during light rain in Prey Mich village, Kampong Speu province. The village chief, Pol Tem, said Suy Phoan, 32, Kuol Khom, 18, and Lak Nech, 18, died instantly in the paddy field.

SEPTEMBER 22: Soy Socheat, 21, was stabbed in the chest with a bayonet by Tith Chantha, 36, in Chrouy Thmar village, Kampong Cham province. He was sent to hospital, where he died. Police said Chantha stabbed Socheat at 9:10am as the two argued over a dance at a brothel where they ate a goat soup and drank wine. Chantha was arrested and told police he was angry because Socheat and his four accomplices knocked him down.

SEPTEMBER 22: Pok Vanny, 19, was axed and severely injured by his drunken father at 10:20 am in Prey Khley village, Kampong Speu province. Police said Vanny was chopped once in the temple by his father, Pok Khan, 48, who was later arrested and told police he chopped his son to threaten his wife because she tried to beat him during an argument.

SEPTEMBER 23: Sun Soeun, 33, was found dead at a canal at 10:10 am in Chrey village, Siem Reap province after she had been missing since the previous day. Police said Soeun was murdered, her throat cut with a knife. They said robbery was not the reason because the killer had not stolen her watch or gold earrings, but they knew of no motive because she had never argued with anyone.

SEPTEMBER 23: A motorbike taxi driver, Khim Pan, 40, was robbed while carrying three passengers at 1:15 pm in Taing Krauch village, Kampong Speu province. Pan said the passengers ordered him to stop and punched his face several times then tried to steal his bike. However police arrived immediately and arrested the robbers, Khon Roeun, 18, Eng Pet, 20, and Eng Heav, 21.

SEPTEMBER 24: Bian Kimheng, 23, a student, died instantly after jumping from the fourth floor of the Technology Institute of Cambodia where she studied in Teuk Laak 1 commune, Phnom Penh. Police said Kimheng, from Battambang province, committed suicide because of a love crisis with her boyfriend, Chamnan Rachna, 21. Rachna was later arrested for questioning.

SEPTEMBER 24: Chak Thy, 32, was arrested while selling a mobile phone at 7 am in Psar Chas commune, Phnom Penh. Police said Thy was accused of stealing the phone from Top Sreypov, 40. Sreypov, who had filed a complaint with the police after being robbed three days earlier, said Thy and his accomplice entered the house and stole $3,200, and two million riel in cash.

SEPTEMBER 25: Police arrested three of six teenagers after they committed a nighttime robbery in Stung Meanchey village, Phnom Penh. Police said the robbers, between 17 and 19 years old, tried to escape on a stolen motorbike belonging to Chhum Him, 24, who told police the robbers surrounded him and threatened to kill him with swords while he was parking his bike to urinate.

SEPTEMBER 26: Seng Phoan, 16, was found dead in the early morning in Trapaing Prasard village, Oddor Meanchey province. Police said Phoan had been tortured with three sticks before being killed and his arms were handcuffed. Seng Phan, 55, said his son had been killed in revenge by a provincial military policeman while returning home from a nearby pagoda where he had gone for a walk during the Pchum Ben festival the previous night.

SEPTEMBER 26: Var Wardh, 63, was arrested after killing an old man, Sok Bou, 83, in Paprok village, Kampong Cham province. Police said Wardh had been drunk and creating problems with neighbors. Bou had called him a drunkard, then Wardh became angry and killed Bou with a hoe. Police said Bou had tried to defend himself with his bamboo stick, but failed.

SEPTEMBER 26: Sim Thy, 38, was sent to hospital after being knifed during an argument at a drinking session in Kraing Kor village, Kampong Speu province. A witness said Thy was struck in the face and Khan Reat, 42, was angry and picked up a heavy knife from his house then chopped Thy in the face and the arm.

SEPTEMBER 27: Thlan Sopheaktra, 20, was attacked with a heavy knife at 8:30pm while leaving Ly Lai restaurant in Mittapheap commune, Phnom Penh, after he had argued with two people while drinking beer. Sopheaktra, who went to a clinic himself for treatment, later complained to police that the people chopped him in the back then left on a motorbike.

SEPTEMBER 27: Police arrested a 15-year-old boy for questioning after the boy was accused of raping a seven-year-old girl the previous day in Doeum Kor village, Phnom Penh. Police said the boy confessed that he persuaded the girl to go upstairs into his house then raped her while watching a sex film. The girl's father told police his daughter had been raped four times.

SEPTEMBER 28: Two government environmental officials, Kim Pauch, 38, and Noun Chan, 28, were shot dead while sleeping at their office in Phlov Ko village, Kampong Speu province. Police said the victims were slain with an AK-47 by four unknown men who escaped, stealing two motorbikes and other property. Police said locals were unhappy with the two officials for prohibiting them from felling trees.

SEPTEMBER 28: A group of five gangsters attacked Keo Ratha, 23, with an ax, a knife, and a sword then escaped on two motorbikes at 10 pm in Psar Doeum Kor commune, Phnom Penh. Police said Ratha was chopped and stabbed in the chest, the waist and the shoulder while eating sweet on the path of Mao Tsetung Boulevard. Ratha was sent to Calmette Hospital for treatment. Police said Ratha had recently argued with his attackers.

SEPTEMBER 29: Yin Saroeun, 35, was found dead with her throat cut at 4:30 am at her house in Mong Baraing village, Kampong Chhnang province. Police said Saroeun was stabbed in the neck and her throat had been cut with a knife. Her husband, who is a provincial criminal police officer, said his wife was killed during a robbery because her five-chi gold necklace had been stolen. However, a construction worker said Saroeun committed suicide because he saw the woman holding a knife before she died.

SEPTEMBER 29: Lon Lauy, 53, was knifed to death while trying to kill a neighbor, Hang Chhun, 75, at 9 pm in Koh Kok village, Kampong Cham province. Police said Lauy and his two sons entered Chhun's house and shot him in both legs with an AK-47 then chopped him in the shoulder with a knife. Nhim Chanly, 49, and her brother, Nhim Long, 47, defended their father against Lauy and his sons, and were also injured during the affray.

- Translated from Khmer newspapers Koh Santepheap and Rasmei Kampuchea by Aun Pheap