A routine excavation at the site to construct a public library in Gharuan, Kharar, turned into a treasure hunt after several old coins were unearthed. The coins were first spotted by children playing near the site and, as the news spread, locals rushed in and began excavating the area in the hope of finding more.
The frenzy lasted for three to four hours before the nagar panchayat stepped in to secure the site.
By then, people, including children, had pocketed all but two coins. “We will ask police to trace the coins taken away from the site. We have also asked their help to secure the site. “We had no idea about this. Some children came shouting that they had found a coin, and the workers and others rushed to the spot.
Officials estimate that around 20-30 coins were found at the site, but their exact number and the historical period are yet to be ascertained. In a letter dated August 26, nagar panchayat executive officer Ravi Jindal wrote to the Gharuan SHO, requesting the deployment of police personnel at the site.
The civic body said it has sought police help to trace the coins taken away from the site and secure the area. Meanwhile, assistant municipal engineer and others have been posted at the site to safeguard the area,” Jindal said. For us, this incident is nothing short of a miracle,” she said.
The civic body, meanwhile, has deployed assistant municipal engineer Harmel Singh as the nodal officer along with patwari Sulakhan Singh, beldars Manjeet Singh and Jagwinder Singh and three sanitation workers to safeguard the area. Excavation work at the site has also been stopped until the ASI completes its survey and determines the age or historical significance of the coins.
