Large Cache of Illegally Held Muzzle-Loading Guns Seized in Baglung District

Baglung. A large number of muzzle-loading guns have been recovered in Baglung. The District Police Office seized 115 illegally held muzzle-loading guns over a period of 40 days.

District Police Superintendent Tilak Bharti informed that the largest number of muzzle-loading guns to date were brought under control through a campaign to search for illegal firearms, conducted in view of the House of Representatives election scheduled for February 21 and to curb poaching in the forests.

According to him, the highest number, 66 units, were recovered from the Area Police Office, Burtibang, followed by 45 units from the Area Police Office, Galakot, and 4 units from the Area Police Office, Barengdanda. He stated that the illegally possessed muzzle-loading guns, kept hidden without licenses, were collected and seized due to the increasing risk of poaching around the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and in various community forests, as well as the potential misuse of muzzle-loaders in local disputes and quarrels.

Police Superintendent Bharti stated that the illegal guns were recovered from places where they were hidden, such as cattle sheds, forests, streams, and uninhabited empty houses, based on patrols conducted by the District Police Office and its subordinate units, as well as information received from local residents. "We have been running a campaign to collect and seize illegal firearms for some time; our police personnel deployed from all police units have taken these weapons under control," said Police Superintendent Bharti, adding, "We have also requested those with licensed weapons to submit them to the police, targeting the elections."

According to him, most of the recovered muzzle-loading guns were found to be locally manufactured and in working condition. The legal provision states that using a muzzle-loading gun without a license can result in imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to 50,000 rupees.