[MSN] 300-yr-old rare Quran seized

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300-yr-old rare Quran seized


By Narayan Bareth

Jaipur, Aug. 8: The police has recovered a rare manuscript of the holy Quran
in Ajmer from a government official. "It is supposed to be more than 300
years old," said Ajmer superintendent of police S .Sengathir. The police has
registered a case under India's Antiquity and Art Treasure Act and a case of
theft.

The copy of the holy Quran is handwritten in Arabic. The police took the
help of a maulvi well-versed in Arabic to judge the age of the copy of the
holy book. The police swung into action when it heard that a person was
trying to sell a Quran of antique value. District assistant treasury officer
Ajay Sharma could not explain how the holy book came into his possession.
"We have questioned the officer and he could not explain it. The matter is
under investigation," said Mr Sengathir. The police is contemplating taking
the help of the Tonk-based Arabi Persian Research Institute. The police is
also contacting various museums to find out whether the manuscript was
stolen. According to sources, the treasury officer told the police he got
the book from a person trying to sell it.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Raza, the nazim of the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti,
has shown an interest in the Quran. "We are ready to keep it with the
dargah. It is the most sacred place for the Quran and we have all facilities
here," he said. "Ours is a government of India body and the dargah
management has the required infrastructure to preserve such a manuscript,"
he said.

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