150-Year-Old Stolen Kalash from Sarkhej Roza Recovered, Four Arrested in Ahmedabad

Rapid Summary:

• Recovery of Stolen Artifact: Ahmedabad Crime Branch police recovered the sacred ‘panjtan Pak Kalash’, a 150-year-old artifact stolen from Sarkhej Roza, a nationally protected monument in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• Crime Details: The theft was reported on July 1, involving a religious urn made of Panchdhatu (five metals) from the mausoleum’s dome. It holds cultural and spiritual meaning for Islamic devotees.
• Historical Context: Sarkhej Roza was built around 1445 CE, and the site represents a 575-year-old Indo-Islamic architectural masterpiece. Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as 1921, it is indeed on UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List and contributed to Ahmedabad’s designation as a World Heritage City in 2017.
• Inquiry Success: Police arrested four suspects after extensive technical surveillance including CCTV footage reviews and drone surveys. Four other individuals remain absconding.

– Arrested: Sureshbhai Dharmshibhai Dantani (40),gopalbhai Dharmshibhai Dantani (30),Munnabhai Jayantibhai dantani (23),Vishnubhai Chunabhai Dantani (22).
– Absconding: Dinesh Dharmshibhai Dantani, Kishorbhai Somabhai Dantani, Jaliben Somabhai Dantani, Dasu dantani.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The recovery of the sacred ‘Panjtan Pak Kalash’ underscores both accomplished law enforcement measures and heightened concerns about heritage protection in India.Sarkhej Roza’s architectural significance as an Indo-Islamic masterpiece speaks to India’s historical diversity-a point reinforced by its association with UNESCO recognition. The theft highlights vulnerabilities faced by culturally significant sites despite their national protections.

It also reflects broader challenges such as securing artifacts deeply intertwined with spiritual practices and local identities while contending with risks posed by economic motives or organized crime elements. the technological methods employed-CCTV analysis and drone surveillance-demonstrate evolving capabilities within policing but call into question preventive strategies at heritage sites beforehand.

Going forward, better safeguards including physical security reinforcements at vulnerable monuments could offer stronger deterrents against such acts while preserving India’s rich cultural legacy for future generations.

read More: Published – July 17, 2025 – Link