Lok Sabha Question No. 3167 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-15
Subject: Protection of Archaeological Places from Theft
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Rodmal Nagar

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) The details are at Annexure I .
- (c) As per the criteria specified under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, a monument or site should be of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and not less than 100 years old.
- (d) Archaeological Survey of India is committed towards protection of the monuments, sites and antiquities under its jurisdiction. Besides regular watch and ward staff of Archaeological Survey  of  India,  Private  Security  Guards,  State  Police  Armed  Guards, and Central Industrial Security Force have been deployed as per requirement. Whenever any theft of antiquity  is  reported,  FIR  is  lodged  in  concerned  police  station  and  'Look  Out  Notice'  is issued to law enforcing agencies (like CBI, police, etc.) including Custom Exit Channels to keep vigil to trace stolen antiquity and prevent their illegal export.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3167 ANSWERED ON 15.03.2021

## PROTECTION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL PLACES FROM THEFT

†3167. SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether incidents of theft have been reported from places of archaeological importance and protected monuments;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any criteria  has  been  fixed  for  protection  or  places  of  archaeological importance; and
- (d) the action taken by the Government to check such incidents?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM

(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY PART (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3167 FOR 15.03.2021

Annexure  I

##  Statement giving details of theft of antiquities from Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites/Museums maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 2017.

| 1.   | Andhra Pradesh   | Theft of a Nandi idol from Sri Anadavalli Ammavaru Temple, Parasurameshwara Swamy Complex, Gudimallam, Chitoor district   | Stone   | 5-10-2017   | F.I.R Lodged   | Not recovered   |
|------|------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------------|----------------|-----------------|

##  No theft is reported from Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites/Museums maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 2018 and 2019

- 
- Statement giving details of theft of antiquities from Centrally Protected

## Monuments/Sites/Museums maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 2020

| 1. Karnataka   | Theft of Kalasa fixed to the shikhara of Sadashiva Temple, Nuggehalli, Taluk Chennarayapatna, District Hassan, Karnataka   | Copper   | 25-02-2020   | F.I.R Lodged   | Not recovered   |
|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|--------------|----------------|-----------------|

- 
- Statement giving details of theft of antiquities from Centrally Protected

## Monuments/Sites/Museums maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 2021.

| 1.   | Uttarakhand   | Theft of Shiva Linga from Bhairav Temple, Mrityunjay Temple Complex, Dwarahat, District Almora   | Stone   | 10.02.2021   | F.I.R Lodged   | Police has caught the thief and the stone Shiva linga has been Recovered.   |
|------|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|--------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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