16 incidents of antique thefts in last four years: Govt

The Centre today said 16 incidents of thefts of antiquities, including a Durga sculpture and Shivalinga, from the centrally protected monuments in the country were reported during the last four years.
In his reply in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Shripad Naik said that there are 16 incidents of thefts of antiquities from centrally protected monuments in the country during the last three years and the current year.
Two of them have been recovered, he added.
The recovered antiquities are two wooden carved brackets, which were missing from Vitthalbhai Haveli at Kheda district of Gujarat this year and the sculptural panel termed as Dashayatara containing nine avataras and one figure of Vishnu sand stone, which was stolen from Dharmrajeshwar Temple and Buddhist Caves in Chandwasa village in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh.

The Minister further said that in order to ensure the security and protection of the ancient sculptures, idols and artifacts, watch and ward staff have been deployed at centrally protected monuments, archaeological sites and museums.
The security has been further supplemented by engagement of private security guards and the State police, he added.