Zee Media Bureau
Unnao (UP): The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Saturday continued to dig for a treasure of 1,000 tonnes of gold supposed to be buried under the ruins of a 19th century fort on the basis of a seer`s dream.
The work started at 10 AM and excavation is being done by local workers under the supervision of four to five members of the Archaeological Survey of India, Sub Divisional Magistrate Vijay Shanker Dubey told a news agency.
In view of the huge turnout of curious onlookers, additional forces have been deployed on the spot, Additional Superintendent of Police Sarvanand Singh said.
The gold is said to be hidden under the fort of Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh. On the first day, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) restricted digging to the peripheral area.
The gold rush was triggered after a seer Shoban Sarkar claimed that the Raja had appeared to him in a dream and told him that 1,000 tonnes of gold lay buried in its ruins.
The Raja, who was hanged in 1858 after rising up against the Britishers, appeared in the dream of the seer and told him to take care of the gold treasure buried in the remains of the late king`s fort, said Swami Omji, a follower of Sarkar.
ASI officials have been camping at the site for the past three days. As thousands turned up for a sight of the fort as news of seer Shobhan Sarkar`s gold dream spread, the district administration has now banned entry of people into the fort`s court.
Sarkar wrote to the prime minister a few weeks back narrating the king had come in his dreams and asked him to get the treasure dug up and hand it over to the government of India to tide the economic crisis.
ASI deputy director PK Mishra told reporters that ASI began the excavation work on the basis of the findings of a report by GSI.
To a query whether the decision for excavation 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 king along with Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi fought the British during the 1857 Mutiny and was overthrown in the process. He went into hiding only to be captured in Varanasi after which he was sent to the gallows.
