Excavation begins for bizarre gold treasure hunt, result may come after 45 days

Unnao (UP): Watched by huge crowds, a team from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today began excavation work at the mysterious fort of Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh here to dig out a hidden gold treasure of 1000 tonnes, which a seer dreamt is buried there.The excavation work took place from 12:30 pm till 4 pm and will continue for the next several days. P K Mishra, Deputy Director, Archaeological Survey of India, said it may take nearly 45 days to complete excavation work and arrive at concrete results.Amidst tight security, the 12 member ASI team with the help of labourers began excavation at the fort in Daundia Kheda village, with crowds watching.District Collector Vijay Kiran Anand said, the district administration will provide full police protection to ASI experts. In the morning, local sadhu Shobhan Sarkar, who claimed he had a dream that 1,000 tonnes of gold lies buried in the remains of the fort, perform “bhoomi poojan” and marked the points to be excavated by the ASI team. When asked about how much time it would take to dig out the treasure, Sarkar said Geological Survey of India (GSI) would be able to answer that accurately, adding the treasure would not be found concentrated at one place.“1000 tonnes of gold will not be found at one place but deep digging would have to be done at several points,” Sarkar said.Heavy police force has been deployed around the fort, where huge crowd has gathered to have a glimpse of the excavation work happening there.Barricades have been erected to control the crowd and media gathered at the spot.Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh, who was martyred during 1857 fight with Britishers, appeared in the dream of the seer and asked him to take care of the gold treasure buried in the remains of his fort, said Swami Omji, a follower of Sarkar.Sarkar reportedly convinced Union Minister Charandas Mahant about his dream, following which a team of ASI and GSI officials surveyed the area.Mahant, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, had visited Sarkar's ashram here on September 22 and October 7 and assured him of appropriate action in this regard. Meanwhile the ASI Deputy Director told reporters that ASI began the excavation work on the basis of the findings of a report by GSI.“On the basis of surface findings like pottery and antiquities, we have decided to excavate that site. It has just started. As far as mound is concerned we have large number of mounds in gangetic valley which belongs to early historical period and historical period,” Mishra said.Replying to a query about whether the decision was taken on the basis of the seer's dream, he said, “actually a report by the GSI suggested that there may be gold or silver there.On the basis of findings of the report we have started the excavation and results will come soon.”The GSI submitted the report in the first week of this month, Mishra said, adding they have not confirmed the amount of gold buried there, but have suggested there could be some alloy.He said the digging process would take over a month to complete.Commenting on the event, Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury said, “If the seer's dream is true or not we will get to know soon. The State Government has taken a decision to this effect.”