Only 11 Licensed Firearms Returned in Chitwan Ahead of Elections

Chitwan. Only 11 firearms for which permits were obtained have been returned to the local administration in the district. Although the local administration had urged the return of licensed weapons targeting the House of Representatives election scheduled for February 21, a relatively small number of licensed weapons have been surrendered.

According to Chitwan's Chief District Officer (CDO) Ganesh Aryal, 141 individuals have obtained permits to keep firearms in the district. The local administration had published a notice on Magh 6, urging the surrender of licensed firearms to make the House of Representatives election impartial, fair, peaceful, and credible. Although the deadline for surrendering the weapons within fifteen days has passed, not all firearms have been returned.

“It is possible that the weapons for which permits were obtained are kept outside the district; the data regarding their surrender in other districts is still being received,” stated CDO Aryal. According to him, firearms held by the banking sector do not need to be returned as they are kept for bank security. For others, he informed that arrangements have been made so that licensed weapons can be returned during the election period and reacquired afterward.