DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Buddha statues and coins have been found during digging on the premises of a government school in Paharpur tehsil to plant saplings here on Saturday.

Deputy commissioner Mohammad Umair said the workers found Buddha statues and coins dating back to 1840 AD.

He said the district administration had taken possession of the antiquities, adding experts of archaeological department Peshawar had been contacted, who would be arriving here soon.

Mohammad Asif, the head teacher at the government primary school, Kotla Lodhian, said the antiquities included Buddha statues, coins and a handmade flour mill. He said the school’s administration informed the tehsil administration about the recoveries.

The deputy commissioner said the area had been sealed off to protect the archaeological site.

It merits a mention here that there are many archaeological sites in Bilot Sharif and adjoining areas in Paharpur tehsil.

Meanwhile, a boy was killed and another injured in a traffic accident on Kulachi Road near Hathala.

Police officials said Rizwan was killed on the spot and his nephew, Taimoor was injured when a speeding car hit their motorcycle.

The injured was shifted to the district headquarters hospital. The police registered a case against the unknown car driver as he escaped after the incident.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2020