The Armed Police Force (APF) apprehended an Indian national with a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition on Sunday night at Lathmari in Ishnath Municipality near the Nepal-India border.

Acting on a tip-off about suspicious activities involving three individuals at Sunil Hotel in Lathmari, an APF team reached the site at around 8:30pm for a raid. Two suspects fled, while one Indian national was detained with a weapon, APF Superintendent Bikram Humagain said.

The arrested individual, identified as 26-year-old Dhananjay Kumar Jha of East Champaran district, Bihar, was found in possession of a semi-automatic pistol, one magazine, and four 7.67mm bullets.

Authorities also seized the motorcycle used by Jha. The APF plans to hand over Jha and the seized items to Nepal Police for further action.

“Investigations are ongoing to determine if Jha is a professional arms smuggler,” SP Humagain said.