MoHA issues circular for submission of records of licensed weapons

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 23: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has issued a circular to all district administration offices (DAOs) across the country, instructing them to submit details of licensed firearms and ammunition.

The directive comes after the Ministry’s building in the Singha Durbar complex was destroyed by fire during the Gen Z movement on September 8 and 9. Following the incident, the Home Ministry directed all 77 district administration offices to collect and submit information on the inventory of licensed firearms and ammunitions.

During the violent demonstrations on September 9, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Home Ministry building were set ablaze, destroying several important documents, including records of firearms and ammunitions. 

According to the Home Ministry, approximately 35,000 weapons had previously been authorised and kept by the public with permission from local administrations. 

To centralise and update these records, the Ministry had last week instructed all district administrations to submit the relevant information.

According to Home Ministry Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Ananda Kafle, the circular aims not only to consolidate the records of licensed firearms but also to support election security ahead of the upcoming polls. 

A meeting of the Central Command Post, chaired by Home Secretary Raj Kumar Shrestha, decided to update the integrated firearms inventory and submit it to the Home Ministry. 

The meeting also recommended that district administrations publicly appeal to citizens to surrender their licensed firearms and ammunitions until the election ends. Following the Ministry’s directive, several district administrations have already issued public notices calling for the submission of firearms records.

Prior to the Gen Z movement, around 36,000 firearms had been legally held by civilians, including pistols, revolvers, muskets (muzzle loading guns), 12-bore and 22-bore shotguns, air guns, and more than a dozen other types. 

Some firearms were unrenewed or had their licences revoked, and the lack of updated records posed potential risks. The Ministry’s current effort seeks to update these records and clarify the status of licences.

The Home Ministry reports that licences for 12-bore, 22-bore, and muskets are numerous. While revolvers and pistols are also widely held, inadequate monitoring and regulation pose risks of misuse. Licensed firearms cannot be used in ways contrary to their terms, and carrying them in public spaces is strictly prohibited.

With the upcoming elections in mind, the Home Ministry is now once again collecting comprehensive records of licensed firearms.