The ASI has 70 security guards manning the place. Truth iswhen The Goan went about picking up artifacts on all three occasions it metjust one security guard. What is even more disturbing is the fact the securityreins of all these places are handed over to the Church after 5:30 pm. If thisbe so then how does ensure coordination between these two agencies of the securityof the place?
What also emerges is a complete lack of coordination betweenthe ASI and the Church where blame game and not preservation of past forposterity is a major concern. When TheGoan asked ASI Chief of his awareness of the robbery at Musuem of ChristianArt, his refrain was the area was not under his jurisdiction.
The Goan’s investigations reveal that no cases have beenregistered with the CBI or Customs to stop people from taking out any of these valuablestuff out of the country under The Antiquities and ArtTreasures Act, 1972 and Rule 1975. The stark question is if it ASI did notcheck its’ inventory in 25 years, how could it register a case? And if it didnot register a case how do we know thatthe list of inventory remained intact. In fact, Rao told The Goan that there has been no theft or loss. Well we tookartefacts away. So we know.
Investigations also reveal that these antiquesin form of stones were kept in a storeroom from 1970s and taken out onlyrecently in 2010 and installed in the outside museum. A simple Google Mapsearch reveals that many more structures have been lying there earlier andunattended.
As ASI plans to install surveillance cameras at Basilica ofBom Jesus which will keep a check of surrounding area up to a radius of upto 2kms, the cause for concern remains. It’s too little, too late. The openstructures and artifacts need more surveillance as bounty hunters and vandalsmay scavenge them. While ASI follows a diktat from the Centre, locally to thereseems to be no plans.
What our investigations also revealed that the peopleguarding these structures are oblivious of what goes on in the structure thatthey guard. While precious jewels were robbed from MOCA, the fact thatpriceless and dated structures lying outside idly may also be robbed and soldoverseas to antique collectors does not bother the security guards. For ASItheir duty to security of our past ends at 5:30 pm.
