Kathmandu, Oct. 26 -- More than 550 firearms looted during the Gen Z protests on September 9 remain missing, according to the Nepal Police Headquarters.

A total of 1,276 weapons were seized when protesters attacked and set fire to various police stations across the country during the unrest. Of these, only 720 have so far been recovered by the Nepal Police, the Nepali Army and the Armed Police Force.

Police said that 285 heavy weapons, including INSAS and SLR rifles, and 271 small firearms are still unaccounted for. Officers have warned that the missing weapons pose a serious challenge to peace and security nationwide.

The September 9 unrest also saw widespread prison breaks, with 14,043 inmates and detainees escaping from 28 prisons, ...