ASI staff hit by TRS men

Archaeology department officials who were shifting a Kakatiya period artefact were physically assaulted by some people claiming to be members of the TRS. The officials were shifting a huge tub which was said to have been used by the Kakatiya rulers to feed animals.

The tub had been lying neglected inside bushes on a privately-owned piece of land beside the Talla Padmavati College near Ursugutta in Warangal. The archaeology department had identified the tub in 1970 and recorded it but it was never shifted.

The officials decided to shift it to the museum near the Warangal fort for preservation.

Archaeology department officials who were shifting a Kakatiya period artefact were physically assaulted by some people claiming to be members of the TRS.

The officials were shifting a huge tub which was said to have been used by the Kakatiya rulers to feed animals.

The district collector had approved the shifting and provided the equipment. Five cranes, an excavator and a heavy load truck were hired for the shifting.

While the men were at work on Thursday night, some locals, who claimed to be followers of a local ruling party leader, asked the men how they could move the tub without the permission of the local leaders. The officials answered that they had been given orders by the district collector and the archaeology department.

The assailants, who were drunk, beat up the officials and the drivers of the cranes. Archaeology department senior assistant Ramesh, foreman Subash, Warangal Urban district tourism consultant P. Aravind and assistant engineer from KUDA, Bharath, were injured in the attack.

Assistant director of archaeology G. Ganga Devi said they would lodge an official complaint with the local police on Saturday.

“The senior assistant and the foreman were severely injured in the attack. The assailants must be severely punished for beating up officials who were on duty.” she said.

After taking up the issue with the collector and the commissioner of police on Friday, the ancient tub was shifted to the museum in Warangal fort amid police security.