Hundreds of Rifles, Inverters Burned in Banteay Meanchey

Hundreds of homemade air rifles and power inverters—used for illegal hunting and fishing, respectively—confiscated across Banteay Meanchey province over the course of last year were incinerated in a ceremony overseen by the provincial governor Tuesday morning.

The 400 rifles and 360 inverters, collected by police in seven districts and two cities in the northwestern province, were arranged in a pyre at the mu­nicipal police headquarters in Serei Saophoan City, doused in kerosene and set alight at about 9 a.m., provincial governor Kousoum Saroeuth said.

Banteay Meanchey provincial governor Kousoum Saroeuth, center, helps light a pyre of homemade air rifles and power inverters at the provincial police headquarters Tuesday. (Lim Cheavutha)
Banteay Meanchey provincial governor Kousoum Saroeuth, center, helps light a pyre of homemade air rifles and power inverters at the provincial police headquarters Tuesday. (Lim Cheavutha)

Mr. Saroeuth said the majority of the crude wooden rifles were handed over voluntarily, thanks to the successful promotion of a “safe home policy” intended to rid local households of the weapons.

“Air guns that fire ball bearings are a danger during domestic disputes. If [couples] argue with each other, they could be used,” the governor said.

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