Chinese police have confiscated close to 53,000 guns by the end of August in a nationwide crackdown started in March this year, and 9,849 suspects involved in gun-related crimes were punished, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said Thursday.

The ministry started the special crackdown on explosives and gun-related crimes in March, and said it would continue till China's October 1 National Day celebration.

The crackdown is part of the ministry's campaign to maintain public stability, as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Police also confiscated more than 2 million bullets and 120,000 imitation guns, the ministry said.

About 12 percent of all guns confiscated were seized in the southern Hainan Province, while about 17 percent of the confiscated bullets came from the central Henan Province, the ministry said.

The southern province of Guangdong seized 34,690 imitation guns, which took up one fourth of the total.

Meanwhile, the MPS urged that efforts to crack down on gun-related crime must not be relaxed yet. Police forces should mobilize the public to report to the ministry if they have information about gun-related crimes, the ministry said on its website.

About 60 percent of the guns confiscated by the police were handed in by the public voluntarily, the ministry said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2009)