Five special Police teams formed to trace stolen 'Nizam swords'

Hyderabad, Jan 18 (UNI) The city police today formed five special teams to trace the stolen valuable antiques belonging to Nizam's era from the state Museum on January 16.

Police said two iron swords of three feet length, dating back to the Nizam's time, a spearhead, four rods of a cot used to hold a mosquito net and two flower vases were robbed from the period room in the museum. Four watchmen and two security guards were on duty at the premises when the burglary took place.

The miscreants gained entry into the museum by lifting a shutter in the rear of the contemporary Art Gallery with an iron rod. An old clock was also found damaged in the premises.

Investigators suspect that one of the culprits might have stayed back in the premises after the museum was closed in the night and later he along with his associates could have lifted the shutter.

The Museum was located in a high security zone, a stone's throw from the state Legislative Assembly and the police Control room.

Museum worker Mohammed Yousuf, who came to open the locks of the gate, was the first person to notice the opened shutter yesterday morning. He immediately informed the Museum Assistant Director B Vasudhachari, who called the police immediately. Cases were booked under sections 457 and 380 of the IPC.

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