387 Muzzle-Loading Guns Surrendered in Baitadi Ahead of Elections

Baitadi. A total of 387 muzzle-loading guns have been surrendered to the District Administration Office in Baitadi. In view of the security arrangements for the House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21, the District Administration Baitadi had urged all licensed arms and ammunition holders to return their weapons.

According to Baldev Badu, Information Officer at the District Police Office Baitadi, 387 muzzle-loading guns have been collected so far in accordance with that notice. He stated that the guns were collected through police deployment and information dissemination via social media by the District Police Office and its subordinate police units.

Although the administration published a notice on Magh 6 mentioning that licensed arms must be returned by Magh 20, not all weapons have been returned. Binod Bhattarai, Information Officer at the District Administration Office Baitadi, informed that the request was made through a notice for licensed arms held in the names of various individuals, considering the election security situation.

He further stated that the deadline for returning licensed arms, which was previously set, was extended until the end of Magh after the arms were not returned by the stipulated date. 'Licenses for 1,086 firearms have been distributed in Baitadi,' said Information Officer Thapa, 'Of these, only 452 have renewed their licenses in the current fiscal year.'

The police have stated that the collected guns will be kept securely during the election period and returned to their respective owners after the election is completed.