DUSHANBE, April 11, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Resident of Murgab district in Gorno Badakhshan has been detained for illegal weapon storage, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

The source at a MoI says Murgab resident Mamadmusa Odinayev, 52, was detained yesterday on suspicion of illegal storage of weapons.  When searching his house police officers found an assault rifle Kalashnikov.

Criminal proceedings have bee instituted against Odinayev under the provisions of Article 195 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – illegal storage of weapons; an investigation is under way.

On the same day, the assault rifle Kalashnikov was found in the Shainaki-Chinor area, Roudaki district, the source aid.

In the meantime, Tajiks are continuing to surrender weapons.  On April 10, resident of Tursunzoda district voluntarily handed over the TOZ-8 rifle to local police station.

According to the Interior Ministry data, 435 firearms, including 98 assault rifles, 74 pistols, 71 rifles, 40 grenade launchers, as well as 179 explosives and large amount of bullets of different caliber have been confiscated or surrendered to police stations across the country since the beginning of this year under the ongoing weapons collection.  The campaign to urge people to surrender weapons was launched in December 1994.