HARIPUR: The archaeology department suspended excavation of a Buddhist site in Ghazi tehsil here on Monday after some residents scuffled with police guards.

The police fired in the air to disperse the crowd, and arrested two men.

They said officials of the archaeology department began digging up a newly-discovered historical site in Khalo village when a few residents showed up and began filming the activity.

The policemen deployed there for the security of officials stopped them from recording the video, but the latter took offence at it and allegedly scuffled with them and even tried to snatch their guns.

The police resorted to firing in the air, arrested two men and registered a criminal case against them.

The residents had discovered the historical site and found artefacts, including a palm-sized Buddha head, during the excavation of an earth-sand mound near the graveyard of Khalo village.

The archaeology department had seized the artefacts, shifted them to Nikra Museum of Khanpur, and sealed the site for further excavation.

According to site supervisor Raja Adnan, the earth and sand mound adjacent to Khalo village’s graveyards was excavated to create space for new graves. Using an excavator machine, the residents found an ancient wall, a palm-sized Buddha head and a small sculpture piece and informed the police about them, who called officials of the archaeology department of Nikra Museum, Khanpur. The artefacts dated back to 2nd century AD. The Buddha head was four inches long and 2.5 inches wide.

Officials said the site was surveyed by the archaeology department, which recommended further excavation.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2022