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.
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.