The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has come under criticism for not providing protection to the ancient Saath Kabar (sixty graves) monuments in Torvi village of Bijapur taluk.
The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, in a release, has said that owing to negligence, one of the important monuments of the Bijapur city was in ruins. According to some historians, Afzal Khan, the army chief of Ali Adil Shah-II, got his 60 wives killed and buried them all here. He is said to have done that after his death during war, his wives might either marry somebody else or be captured by enemies to make them their slaves.
The Vedike said that the area was now surrounded by thorny bushes making the structure invisible. The Vedike said that there was no signboard installed anywhere close the area for displaying the direction to the monument.
Several miscreants have been constantly visiting and damaging the valuable national property, the Vedike said. A few people, in search of treasure, have dug up some portions of the monument. The efforts had also been made to encroach upon the area by people who have farms close the monument.
Demanding ASI to immediately take up steps to preserve and protect the ancient monument by developing connecting road and providing other facilities for tourists, the Vedike said that the area could be developed and tourist place for domestic and international visitors.
