Historic 400-Year-Old Cannon Stolen from Narwar Fort

The alleged theft of a nearly 400-year-old cannon from the historic Narwar Fort in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district has sparked a high-level investigation, with police exploring the possibility of an interstate or international antiquities smuggling network behind the crime. The incident has also exposed security lapses at one of central India's most significant heritage sites and renewed concerns over the protection of historical monuments.

According to police, the theft occurred between Wednesday and Thursday night , when unidentified persons are believed to have entered the fort from its rear side in a vehicle and escaped with the historic artillery piece. Karera Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Prashant Sharma said investigators have inspected the crime scene and are examining all possible angles. Police are analysing CCTV footage , tracing possible escape routes, collecting technical evidence and tracking vehicles that could have been used to transport the heavy cannon.

Officials revealed that the cannon had fallen from its designated position a few days before the theft but was not shifted to secure custody, leaving it exposed and vulnerable. Investigators believe this lapse may have been exploited by the culprits.

The theft has revived memories of a similar incident in 2007 , when three historic cannons were stolen from Narwar Fort and the nearby Kachahri Palace . While one cannon was recovered within days and another later surfaced during a seizure in Mumbai , at least one remained untraced, raising fresh questions over the effectiveness of security measures introduced after the earlier theft.

Calling the incident " extremely serious ," Tarun Kumar Srivastava , Deputy Director of the State Archaeology Department , said he would inspect the fort's security arrangements and review surveillance measures. Officials noted that the fort originally housed 14 historic cannons , with 13 now remaining .

Believed to have been rebuilt by the Kachhwaha Rajputs in the 10th century , Narwar Fort later came under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Marathas and Scindias . Associated with the legendary tale of King Nala and Queen Damayanti , the hill fort is renowned for its palaces, temples and military architecture.

The stolen cannon, believed to date to the 16th or early 17th century , is considered an important example of medieval military engineering. The case has also highlighted the broader issue of heritage crime in Madhya Pradesh , where several antiquities have been stolen over the years and later surfaced in illegal markets in India and abroad. Police are continuing their investigation to determine whether the latest theft is linked to a larger organised trafficking network.