Sindh Police seize illegally-dug antiquities
07 July, 2012
KARACHI: The Sindh Police have foiled a bid to smuggle antiquities, including ancient idols and statues, reportedly belonging to prolonged Gandhara civilisation, during a search operation, here on Friday. On a tip-off, a police party intercepted a truck (JT-8988) near Singer Chowrangi within the precincts of Awami Colony police station and recovered antique idols, statues and other archeological items. About 100 antiquities, including 10 idols, various small statues and several utensils, hidden underneath cleaning items in the truck, were seized during the raid. Police arrested the driver and cleaner of the truck and impounded the vehicle. The driver and cleaner were identified as Asim and Zafar. Talking to our sources, SP Majeed Abbasi unveiled that most of the antiquities were about 2000 years old and belonged to Gandhara civilisation. He further said that antiques belonged to the civilisation were considered as most precious and worth of recovered antiques could be in millions of dollars in international market. When asked if cases of such type of crimes were surfaced, he said that it was an organised crime to steal and smuggle antiques. He said from various museums across the country, including Swat museum and others antiques were stolen during last few years. Sindh Police were determinant to eliminate such type of crimes and striving hard in this regard. He pointed out that last year some antiques were also recovered by the police. SHO Javed Brohi told our sources that the artifacts were being transported to Sialkot. Brohi said that according to initial investigation, the truck was hired from truck stand located at Hawks Bay Road and antiques were loaded from a warehouse at Ibrahim Haideri area. Further investigation was undergoing, he added. End.
|
