DUSHANBE, May 13, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- An arms cache has been discovered in Nourobod district, eastern Tajikistan.

According to the Ministry of Interior, police officers discovered the cash containing two assault rifles Kalashnikov on May 12 while inspecting the area near the village of Sherbegiyon, Samsoliq jamoat (community) in Nourobod district.  It is to be noted that the country’s most wanted man, militant leader Abdullo Rahimov (Mullo Abdullo), was killed along with 14 his followers in this area on April 14 during a search operation by government forces for militants.

On the same day, Makarov pistol was found in Dushanbe’s Victory Park and resident of Sughd’s Ghonchi district voluntarily surrendered the IZh-36 hunting gun to local police station, the source said.

According to the Interior Ministry data, 513 firearms, including 122 assault rifles, 90 pistols, 84 rifles, 51 grenade launchers, 254 hand grenades and other ammunition have been confiscated or surrendered to police stations across the country over the first three months of this year under the ongoing weapons collection.

The campaign to urge people to surrender weapons was launched in December 1994.  Since then, more than 33,000 weapons have reportedly been confiscated or handed over to police stations.