Row over unearthing of cannons

Revenue Department officials unearthing the cannons from the Port office premises at Thalassery on Monday.

Even as talks are on between the Revenue Department and the State Archaeological Department about the handing over of the two cannons which were unearthed near the port office here recently, more cannons were found on the port office premises on Monday. Confusion prevailed on the port office premises after the revenue officials who reached the spot for the removal of cannons were stopped by the port officials. There has been public clamour to retain the cannons in the town

Upon information from the local public about sighting of more cannons in the vicinity of the earlier spot, revenue officials under tahsildar K. Zubair visited the place and found six more cannons of varying sizes on the port office premises. Three cannons were found to be around 65 cm to 1 metre wide at the front and the rear respectively. The remaining three were 2-2.35 metres long and 70 cm to 1 metre wide in the front and rear end respectively, the revenue department officials said. The revenue personnel who tried to remove the cannons were stiffly opposed by the port officials. The port officials claimed that the weapons cannot be removed from the area as it was unearthed there and should be permitted to be preserved in a museum attached to the port office.

When contacted Mr. Zubair said that according to Treasure Trove Act, the matter has to be published in the Gazette, following which any claims and objections could be raised before the District Collector.

Any decision regarding the possession of the objects would be taken up after a hearing, he added.

Sources from the port department maintained that similar weapons found in other ports of the State including the Beypore and Alappuzha ports have been retained in their respective land.

Conservation of objects in the port area is the prime concern of the department, said C. Vinodini, port conservator.

Conserve it

Union Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran who visited the spot later said that all measures should be taken to conserve the historical remains in Thalassery itself.