SWABI, Dec 26: Illegal excavation of some vital archaeological sites had been continuing across the district Swabi, authentic sources told Dawn here on Wednesday.

The sources said besides very rich archaeological site, Hund, there are a number of sites in the district but the provincial archaeological department had failed to initiate excavations, providing an opportunity to the smugglers to conduct secret digging and extracting valuable archaeological items and then smuggling these to the desired areas in return for huge amount of money.

About two months back, the sources said the CIA police had raided an archaeological site, Dheri, near Galabat bypass (located in Baja area), arrested one Islam and registered a case against him for allegedly conducting illegal digging of the site and extracting a number of valuables, earning, thereby, millions of rupees. The case against Islam was being processed in a local court, the sources added.

The accused, however, had claimed he would win the case because there was no proof with the CIA, and that he had never indulged in such business, the sources added.

Islam had claimed that he had leased out the archaeological site, Dheri, allowing the digging and taking of clay from it for the motorway. The police arrested him and registered a case against him.

About 15 days back, the sources said, the local police had arrested 24 residents of Charbagh area when they were allegedly caught red-handed, conducting the excavation of the controversial Dheri. However, they were released on bail after a case against them was registered.

The sources said Islam had made vigorous attempts for allowing him to carry out excavation and also for taking away clay from Dheri but the government had not given any green signal. The local administration, they said, had not allowed anyone to take clay from Dheri.

The Mardan museum in charge and NWFP archaeological officers had also visited the sites but no written statement was given to him, allowing the digging of the area.

When contacted, the CIA in charge, Khalid Naseem Khan, told Dawn that the Mardan army monitoring cell had informed the Swabi monitoring cell who inquired from the Swabi police about the illegal excavation, and “we raided the site and recovered a human skull, hands and other items from Mr Islam. Therefore, a case was registered against him and the items handed over to the in charge of the Mardan museum, Sikandar Shah.”

Quoting the museum in charge, a source said no person was given sanction for excavation and digging of the site was illegal. He said: “Whenever the archaeologists allow the digging of such site, one of our representatives will be present on the occasion to see the archaeologists or the in charge of Mardan museum.”

He said: “We have evidence against Mr Islam that will be produced before the local court during the case proceedings when the concerned judge asks for it. The recovered items handed over to the in charge of Mardan museum will also be presented as proof.”