A massive search operation is underway in two states for a 3,500-kg antique cannon stolen from the historic Narwar Fort in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, on July 15. The Rajasthan Police and Madhya Pradesh Police have been searching for the cannon in Gavda Meena village in Karauli district, about 250 km from the fort, since Wednesday. The search has involved digging up several locations in the village, but so far, no clues have been found.
The search operation has been concentrated in Gavda Meena village after the Shivpuri police received leads that the cannon, dating back 400 years, had been brought to the village. JCB machines have been deployed for excavation at several locations, and a team equipped with specialized metal detectors has been summoned from Bharatpur to help. More than 50 police personnel are involved in the search operation, with others deployed across the village for security.
The authorities are racing against time to find the heritage cannon before it is sold on the organized antiquities trafficking network. The theft of the cannon has raised questions about the security of the Narwar Fort, which is located on a 3,000-ft-high steep hill. On paper, six guards are deployed for the security of the fort, but the night guards were reportedly missing on the night of the theft.
The investigators believe that the thieves wrapped the cannon in mattresses and quilts to protect it from damage and reduce the noise as it was handled, then used a bearing-fitted iron trolley to lower the cannon down the hill, and put it onto a transport vehicle waiting below. The theft is the latest in a long series of heritage crimes in Madhya Pradesh, a state known for its rich collection of medieval temples, forts, sculptures, and archaeological monuments.
The state has topped the country in antiquity thefts from protected monuments over several decades, besides vandalism. While some stolen artefacts have been recovered, many continue to remain missing, and are suspected to have been trafficked to domestic and international markets. The residents of Gavda Meena village are not too thrilled about being the focus of the hunt for the cannon, with the rising agitation causing cautious authorities to wrap up operations in the afternoon on Thursday.
The authorities hope to resume the search on Friday. The search operation has been a massive undertaking, with the police and administrative teams excavating several locations in the village. The operation has been ongoing for the past two days, with the police searching for any suspicious locations, including heaps of freshly disturbed soil.
