As of press time, the operation had been suspended as officials reportedly assessed the situation.

Boonlarp Suksai, who heads the Forest Management Bureau 4, alerted police that someone had called him to warn the Phetchabun governor that if the demolitions did not stop, he would be at risk.

Phu Thap Boek is a growing tourist town in the northern province, but the government wants to regulate the area and tear down illegal resorts.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday police were looking into the case and close to issuing an arrest warrant.

“Authorities can definitely trace the person who made threat. It can be traced from that phone call,” he said.

A source said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam had hinted that a politician who lost money because of the crackdown on illegal resorts was behind the threat.

Prayut said the demolition of illegal resorts was based on a court order.

“The court has already ruled that they are against the law,” he said.

Deputy police spokesman Pol Colonel Krisana Pattanachareon said yesterday that Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan had already instructed National Police Commissioner Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda to handle the death threat against the governor.

Krisana refused to comment on reports the person who made the threat claimed he was with the Islamic State group.

In a related development, Ma Wongthabboek, a former village head, led seven local residents in submitting a petition to Prayut over moves to dismantle the resorts in Phu Thap Boek.

“The operations are not in line with the promise the Thai government made to persuade local villagers to lay down arms [decades ago],” Ma said. His group submitted the petition via a government complaint-receiving centre.