WWII shells spark fear and hilarity

PHUKET TOWN: A scrap metal collector found 17 World War II-era artillery shells under a tree in an area off Rassadanusorn Road in Moo 3 yesterday. Pol Capt Anukul Nookate, of Phuket Town Police Station, said that he received a phone call at 12:30 pm that the shells had been found near the garbage pile belonging to Kijprasarnphattana Co. Pol Capt Thanapong Mokthong, Inspector of Phuket Forensic Science, described the shells as being 30 centimeters long and bullet-shaped, and said they appear to have been ammunition for artillery. “We will send them for forensic tests in Bangkok, but I don’t believe they pose a danger, as they are 60 years old and rusted,” he said. He added that the shells would be destroyed or buried once the investigation is complete. Chuan Promchoj, the scrap metal collector, told the police that he saw the rusted shells while he was rummaging through the garbage looking for scrap to sell, but didn’t know what they were. He put them in his motorcycle sidecar, but found that, weighed down by the shells, his bike could not make it up a nearby hill. He called his relative, Kamol Pakamas, who lives nearby, to help. K. Kamol told police that he arrived to find a friend of K. Chuan’s apparently yanking on the detonator at the sharp end of the shell. Worried that there might be an explosion, he shouted to the man to stop, and asked someone call the police. While officers were investigating at the scene, amusement was provided when a tire on a passing motorcycle blew out with a tremendous bang. Not knowing where the noise came from, the police ran for cover, much to the hilarity of the villagers who had gathered to watch the excitement.