Dogra treasure being relocated to safety

The priceless treasure of the Dogra kings, who ruled over Jammu and Kashmir for over 100 years, is being relocated after the Rani Charaki Palace where it was kept was found to be unsafe.

The rooms housing a golden throne, two palanquins, idols of gold, 12 silver chairs and 32 silver utensils of the royal era were opened amid massive security Thursday at 12.30 p.m.

The glittering golden throne is to be shifted to the civil secretariat from Mubarak Mandi, a historic building from where four generations of Dogra kings ruled the state.

The other items of the Dogra rule including guns and ammunition will be shifted after a fortnight, according to Hirdesh Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Jammu.

It was learnt that the Toshakhana, or the treasure, in Rani Charaki Palace in Jammu was opened for the first time since the Dogra rule came to an end 60 years ago.

Rani Charaki palace is part of the vast Mubarak Mandi complex of the Dogra kings. A fire that broke out in the building last week had gutted part of the building, which had ignited passions among the Dogras - the natives of Jammu region.

Many feared that their heritage was in danger because of the unsafe building in which the 'Toshakhana' was housed since 1947, after Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra king of the state, stepped down to make way for a democratic rule.

Hari Singh had signed the instrument of accession in October 1947, acceding Jammu and Kashmir to India.

The building had also suffered a big jolt on Oct 8, 2005, when a 7.6. Richter scale intensity earthquake hit Jammu and Kashmir.

A magisterial probe ordered by the coalition government in the state failed to address the concerns of the people.

The cabinet on Wednesday decided to shift the treasure from Mubarak Mandi to a safer building in the civil secretariat.

(IANS)

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