BENI: A record number of illegal firearms have been seized in Myagdi district. One hundred and fifteen illegal firearms were seized during a one-month period of the ‘Operation Bravo Sera’ campaign, started by the District Police Office from December 1 to confiscate illegal firearms.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Surya Bahadur Thapa of the District Police Office stated that the illegal arms search campaign was conducted in view of security for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5 this year and to prevent poaching of wildlife in the forests.

According to him, the highest number of firearms, 48 in total, were seized from the Raghuganga Rural Municipality area. Similarly, 16 illegal firearms were confiscated in Annapurna Rural Municipality, 20 in Malika Rural Municipality, 14 in Mangala Rural Municipality, six in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality, and 11 in Beni Municipality.

The police said that firearms that were hidden without licenses were collected and confiscated due to the increased risk of poaching in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Annapurna Conservation Area, and various community forests. The confiscation of these firearms has lowered the risk of these weapons being used in disputes and quarrels in the villages.

District Police Office’s Information Officer, Inspector Sagar Timilsina, said that illegal guns hidden in sheds, forests, riverbeds and uninhabited empty houses were seized during patrols conducted by the District Police Office and its subordinate units after receiving information from the local residents.

According to him, most of the recovered illegal guns were locally made and found in working condition. There is a legal provision that using illegal guns without a license can result in up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 50,000.