Police seize rare bronze plates dating back to 1818; duo suspected of attempting illegal sale of antique artefacts
Guwahati (Assam), Nov 16: Police in Biswanath district detained two persons on Thursday evening after recovering a set of bronze plates believed to be a 207-year-old land patta issued during the British East India Company era.
The rare artefact, regarded as an early form of land ownership certificate, was seized during a vehicle check on National Highway 15 near Bihpukhuri.
According to police, the bronze patta—bearing patta number 055, owner number 041 and serial number 078—was issued on March 27, 1818, by Lavakusha Das, then District Collector of Borsial district under the East India Company administration.
The plates were found in a car travelling from Biswanath Chariali towards Borgang.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Hemanta Gogoi, 47, of Madhupur, and Mintu Borah, 43, of Borkura village under Biswanath Chariali police station.
Investigators suspect the duo was attempting to traffic the artefact for illegal sale.
Officials said the State Directorate of Archaeology had earlier advised law enforcement agencies to intensify surveillance to curb the smuggling of historically significant objects.
Police added that the seized items could hold substantial value in the international market due to their antiquity.
Further investigation is underway to determine the source of the bronze plates and the intended network of buyers.
