Police on Tuesday recovered a pistol that drug traffickers had robbed from officers. The firearm, along with bullets, was found abandoned in a forest in ward 1 of Kailash Rural Municipality, said Superintendent of Police Bishwaraj Khadka of the District Police Office, Makwanpur.

On Monday, drug traffickers had robbed the pistol from police officers in Dumshikharka forest in ward 6 in Kailash Rural Municipality. Following the incident, a team of 65 officers, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Shyamu Aryal, was deployed to search for the weapon and the suspects.

The confrontation began when Head Constable Arjun Tamang and Assistant Head Constable Govindra Magrati from the Palung Area Police Office arrived at Dumshikharka forest after receiving information about opium trafficking. Upon seeing the officers, the traffickers fled, leaving behind two kilograms of opium and a motorcycle.

As the officers were returning with the confiscated items, a group of about 15 traffickers ambushed them near Dumshikharka, assaulted them, and robbed a Type-54 pistol loaded with seven rounds of ammunition before fleeing.