Thieves have now stolen a portion of an ancient cannon from the Kot Diji archaeological complex in Sindh.
According to local reports, the thieves used a cutting machine to slice off part of the centuries-old brass cannon before escaping with it.
Residents have urged the Sindh Minister for Culture and Archaeology to take notice of the incident, arrest those involved, and ensure that the stolen piece of the historic weapon is recovered.
This is not the first time Kot Diji’s artillery has been targeted. In 2023, the Sindh Culture Department traced six cannons that had gone missing nearly three decades earlier.
Two of them were found at the Khairpur Police Lines, while others were discovered at locations including the Deputy Commissioner’s House, Maryam Chowk, and Babbarloi Police Station in Khairpur.
Kot Diji is an ancient archaeological and historical fort site located roughly 45 kilometers south of Khairpur in Sindh, near the eastern bank of the Indus River.
Dating back to the early Harappan period, it served as a strategic defensive settlement long before the rise of the Indus Valley Civilization. The Kot Diji Fort, built later in the 18th century by the Talpur dynasty, stands atop a hill and overlooks the old settlement below.
Known for its massive stone walls, gateways, and remnants of early urban planning, Kot Diji remains one of Sindh’s most significant heritage sites, offering insight into both prehistoric culture and later regional fort architecture.