[CPProt.net] India: No headway in Chhattisgarh antique robbery

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

 No headway in Chhattisgarh antique robbery 
Raipur: Despite overnight raids at over a dozen places, Chhattisgarh police
failed to make a breakthrough in the recovery of a stolen sixth century
statue.

`Nagpurush', a rare and ancient work of art in bronze, went missing Friday
from the historical site of Sirpur, 75 km from here, in Mahasamund district.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has undertaken excavation
work at Sirpur, describes the place as one of Asia's famous and biggest
Buddhist study centres of fifth and sixth centuries.

"During the past 48 hours, we carried out raids at several places but drew a
blank. I suspect the involvement of an inter-state gang," police official
Dipanshu Kabra told IANS Sunday over telephone from Mahasamund.

Tourism and Culture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said: "It is strange how a
2.5 feet statue is stolen from Sirpur where several ASI officials are
monitoring the excavation work and heavy police arrangements have been made
for guarding over a 100 rare statues."

A female Buddha monk's statue 'Haritika', which was stolen in June from
Sirpur, was later recovered from an inter-state gang after religious
scholars criticised the government for not providing adequate security to
the state's historical sites. 


http://www.newkerala.com/