Rautahat, December 29 An iron sword used in a war with British soldiers around 200 years ago was found at Samanpur of Gadhimai Municipality, Rautahat, yesterday evening, sources claimed. It is learnt that the iron sword used in the fight with British soldiers in the Anglo-Nepal war of 1814-1816 was recovered from Samanpur. History has it that Nepali soldiers and locals used domestic weapons, including sharp swords to chase away British soldiers from Samanpur and gain victory over them. The sword was found from a pond in front of the house of Piritiya devi Raut in Samanpur. “I have heard that my father-in-law’s grandfather recovered a lot of small weapons including swords,” said 99-year-old Piritiya devi, adding, “But all of them were lost.” Gadhimai Municipality Mayor Shyam Prasad Yadav handed over Rs 2,000 to Piritiya devi for handing over a weapon used by Nepali soldiers two centuries ago. Mayor Yadav pledged to felicitate the elderly woman. Nepali soldiers and locals of Samanpur fought hard for two years and chased British soldiers away, Yadav added. Yadav stressed the need to develop and promote Samanpur as a historical site. Meanwhile, a team of NA personnel deployed from Indra Box Gan at Gaur, Rautahat, made a field visit and inspected the historic pillar and pond. Nepali soldiers and locals had attacked British troops while they were celebrating New Year on December 31, 1814 and January 1, 1815. Hundreds of British troops were killed by Nepali soldiers and was able to take many arms and ammunition of British Army under control. History has it that as many as 1,200 Nepali soldiers led by Captain Sarbajit Thapawas deployed to Samanpur. Then Colonel Ranabir Singh had led Nepali troops in Parsa, Bara, and Rautahat. Colonel Sujan Shakya at Indra Box Gan, Gaur, surmised that the iron sword might have been used in Anglo-Nepal War. “But, the fact will come out only after the Department of Archeology verifies the sword,” Colonel Shakya stated.