Jaipur: The hunt for a 16th-century cannon stolen from Madhya Pradesh’s ASI-protected Narwar Fort has boomed in Rajasthan, with police excavating multiple locations in Karauli district since Wednesday after receiving intelligence that the historic artillery piece may have been hidden there.Police from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, assisted by the district administration and JCB machines, dug up at least four suspected sites in a village near Karauli’s Hindaun. The searches, under the supervision of Karauli SP Lokesh Sonwal, have so far failed to yield the cannon stolen from Narwar on the intervening night of July 15 and 16. The artefact is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).The cross-border operation began after MP police received specific inputs suggesting the stolen cannon was transported to Karauli and concealed, possibly underground or in surrounding woods. Forested areas, suspected hideouts and locations showing signs of recent excavation are being scoured. A specialised team with metal detectors is on the job to detect whether the cannon has been buried in the area.Senior Rajasthan officials said they had directed Karauli police to extend full cooperation after MP police sought assistance in the search. “MP police received specific inputs suggesting the artefact, or parts of it, may have been hidden around Hindaun,” said an official.Investigators suspect the theft may have been carried out by an organised network involved in smuggling historical artefacts. Police are also probing whether the cannon was intended to be smuggled out of the country after being removed from the fort. Officials said all possible angles, including the involvement of heritage smugglers, were being examined as part of the investigation.
