5 months ago
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Even arsenic the peculiar probe squad probing the golden theft lawsuit successful Sabarimala is believed to beryllium looking into the space of the southbound India-based antique mafia, statistic with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) uncover that 31 antique idols person been stolen from assorted protected sites, monuments, and temples successful the state successful the caller past. Of this, lone 4 could beryllium retrieved by the enforcement agencies, portion 27 are inactive missing.
According to ASI sources, though bulk of the cases were reported from southbound India, particularly Karnataka, wherever 14 antiques were stolen from ASI-protected sites from 2013 to 2023, nary antiques were stolen from sites protected nether the ASI successful Kerala since the ASI formed its ellipse successful Kerala successful 1997.
The Kalady case
However, a batch of different cases person been reported successful the State, including the theft of the half-foot-tall Sivalinga, made of greenish chromatic believed to beryllium emerald, that went missing from the Adi Sankara Janmabhoomi Temple astatine Kalady successful Ernakulam successful 2009.
Speaking to The Hindu, a highly placed elder constabulary serviceman said a Temple Theft Investigation Special Team (TTIST) was formed soon aft this burglary. Though the peculiar squad cracked galore different cases, the idol from Kalady inactive eludes the constabulary net, contempt the squad having past tried to question Subhash Kapoor, the U.S.-based antique dealer, whose sanction present finds notation successful the Sabarimala golden theft case. Later, the TTIST squad was disbanded, and the members were deputed to different wings of the constabulary force, including District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF).
In the airy of the caller Sabarimala contention and since Mr. Kapoor was extradited to India, the constabulary unit is present exploring the anticipation of reopening the Kalady case, said the officer. In the lawsuit of stolen antiques from the ASI-protected monuments and temples successful the country, the bureau could retrieve astir 251 antiques from overseas from 1976 to 2023. Among these, 238 antiques were retrieved aft 2014, and astir 176 of them were retrieved from the U.S. alone, followed by 40 from Australia and 16 from the U.K., with the enactment of Indian embassies and missions abroad.
Theft cases
However, the retrieved antiques are lone the extremity of the iceberg, considering the fig of specified thefts during the fag extremity of the 1990s and the archetypal years of the millennium. For instance, 813 antiques were stolen from the state successful 1997 alone, followed by 528 successful 1998, 704 successful 1999, 539 successful 2000, and 403 successful 2001, according to Parliament records. In Kerala, determination are 29 protected monuments and 13 temples nether the ASI. However, famed temples similar Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple successful Thiruvananthapuram, wherever treasure thought to beryllium worthy billions of rupees was unearthed from concealed underground chambers successful 2011, and Sabarimala bash not travel nether the jurisdiction of the ASI.
