LARKANA, May 10: Some unidentified armed burglars took away some 41 precious artifacts, including 5000 years old original seals of stones and copper tablets, from the Archeology Museum, Moenjodaro, on Thursday.

When contacted the DPO of Larkana, Ghulam Nabi Memon, informed newsmen on Friday the burglars also injured the watchman of the museum, Ghulam Nabi Machhi, when he offered resistance.

The DPO further informed that a DSP had been deputed to investigate into the matter and the footprints of the thieves were also being followed.

He maintained that the manner in which the offense was committed suggested involvement of those who knew about the value of the artifacts.

Ali Haider, A conservator at Moenjodaro, informed Dawn on Friday that 38 stone seals and two copper tablets were missing from one glass show case which was smashed my the thieves. These seals and copper tablets were original, he added.

Irshad Soomro, a laboratory analyst at the site, said that the burglars had left one magazine of Kalshnikove, a new folding ladder, big cutter and a bag behind them.

He further said that they escaped towards Tasra village after crossing the Dadu canal and one of the burglars was wearing a jogger. He said blood traces were found at the site of incident which indicated that the burglars had received injuries while breaking the glasses with an iron rod.

Saeed Ahmed Jatoi, the curator, told Dawn that while fleeing, the burglars had left behind certain antiques that were later collected by the museum staff.

The Nazim of Baggi, Mohib Pirzado, who visited the site of incident, told Dawn on Friday that it was a conspiracy and the stolen seals and copper tablets were of millions of dollars.

Sources informed that the incident occurred at around 3:30am on early Friday morning, when the burglars managed to break open a part of the southern wall of the museum at Moenjodaro.

The burglars smashed the glass of only one out of some 30 showcases at the museum, which indicated that they had a specific target or job to perform.

The burglars were noticed by the watchman of the museum who challenged them and in response received a bullet in his leg.

He was admitted in Taluka hospital, Dokri.

It may be mentioned here that Moenjodaro police station is only a few yards away from the museum and is situated in the premises of an Archeology building.

When contacted the constable on duty at the airport police station, said an FIR on the complaint of the assistant curator, Zaheer Ahmed Shar, was being lodged.

All the stolen artifacts were discovered during the first excavation of about 1/6th portion of the remains of the oldest megalopolis of the human civilization.