PREVENTION OF ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF ANTIQUITIES
PREVENTION OF ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF ANTIQUITIES
Six theft cases have been reported from the Monuments of National Importance. Recovery have been made in four cases. (Annexure I). FIR was lodged in all the cases. None of them has been reported to have moved abroad. No valuation by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been done regarding the above antiquities.
The Government takes necessary steps towards the prevention of illicit trafficking of cultural property. Besides regular watch and ward staff, Private Security Guards and Central Industrial Security Force have been deployed as per requirement at monuments, sites and museums. Whenever any theft of antiquity is reported; FIR is lodged and ‘Look Out Notice’ is issued to the law enforcement agencies including Custom Exit Channels to keep vigil to trace stolen antiquity and prevent its export. Efforts are being made to raise awareness towards preserving cultural heritage.
ANNEXURE-I
Details Of Stolen Antiquities from the Monuments of National Importance During the Last Five Years
S.No.
State
Name of Monuments/Sites (from where the antiquities were stolen and location)
Name of object stolen
Year of theft
Status
Andhra Pradesh
Golingeswara group of Temples, Biccavolu, District East Godawari.
Nandi sculpture
2021
Recovered
Uttarakhand
Bhairav Temple, Mrityunjay Temple Complex, Dwarahat, District Almora.
Shiva Linga
2021
Recovered
Jharkhand
Sitagarha Archaeological Excavation Site, District Hazaribagh.
Two sculptures of Buddha in bhumisparsha mudra
2021
Recovered
Karnataka
Ganpati Amma Shrine of Lakshminarasimha Temple, Marehalli, District Mandya.
Stone idol of Ganpati
2022
–
Bihar
Village Dattina, P.S Vikram, District Patna.
Image of Vishnu
2022
–
Tamil Nadu
Parthasarathi and Krishna
Temples, Parthivapuram, Vilavancode, District Kanyakumari.
Idol of Vishnu
2024
Recovered
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.