Authorities in Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur district are seeking assistance from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) after locals flocked to the Asirgarh Fort area, hoping to unearth hidden treasures.
The sudden interest in treasure hunting was reportedly triggered by the Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava. Videos that surfaced earlier this week showed groups of people digging fields near Asirgarh Fort under the cover of darkness, armed with metal detectors, torches, and ploughs.
Administration Responds to Amateur Diggers
Upon learning of the incident, Burhanpur District Magistrate (DM) Harsh Singh ordered Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Nepanagar to investigate. According to Singh, the SDM found multiple pits in the privately-owned field, which belongs to a man identified as Hassan.
Speaking to The Print, Singh said, “There are a lot of stories of people finding gold coins, but we are awaiting the official report of the SDM. If people have discovered these coins, they are the property of the state archaeological department, and we will approach the ASI team to look for artefacts and potentially conduct a controlled excavation.”
Speculations About Buried Treasure at Asirgarh Fort
Videos circulating on social media appear to be from two separate incidents. The first dates back five months when ancient coins were reportedly found during National Highway construction near the fort. The second incident, Singh said, happened about a week ago.
After the initial coin discovery, locals began frequently digging in the fields, prompting the district administration to issue warnings. Despite these alerts, the landowner reported that digging resumed soon after his wheat crop was harvested.
On Sunday, a team of officials, including the SDM and tehsildar, visited Asirgarh village and urged residents to hand over any coins or artefacts they might have found. Villagers were warned against further excavations.
Local Authorities Step Up Vigilance in Asirgarh Fort
To curb the digging frenzy, Asirgarh village sarpanch Dharmendra Pradhan announced he would conduct night patrols near the fields. “We will also request villagers to hand over anything they might have discovered. No digging will be allowed henceforth,” Pradhan told The Print.
Asirgarh’s Storied Past
Burhanpur, once a key Mughal administrative hub for southern India, holds significant historical value. Kamruddin Falak, a member of the district archaeological tourism and cultural council, told The Print, “It was the second politically most significant city after Delhi for the Mughals. There were two mints in Burhanpur. But after Sambhaji Maharaj attacked, he plundered the city and went back. It is believed many buried their valuables underground then.”
Falak further revealed that six months ago, a pot of coins was found during National Highway construction. The coins had Persian inscriptions reading ‘zarb-e-burhanpur’ and ‘zarb-e-asir,’ translating to ‘Burhanpur Mint’ and ‘Asirgarh Mint.’
Growing Interest Among Locals
Locals have long believed the area holds buried treasures. Nitin Parashar, principal at Asirgarh High School, located 800 meters from the site, told The Print, “Many students often discuss how people have found coins in these fields. Even some local grazers claim to possess bronze coins they discovered there.”
Parashar added that some residents have even dug under temples near the school in search of gold coins.
