Treasure hunt irks Chennampalle folks

Kurnool: A blasting sound that echoed at midnight disturbed the peaceful atmosphere of Chennampalle village. The continuous sounds startled the villagers who ran in groups in the direction of the sounds. On reaching the spot, the villagers were taken aback seeing a platoon of the police personnel, some government officials and workers busy blasting the 13th Century Chennampalle fort.

The villagers realized that the excavation was being carried out to unearth the hidden treasure lying beneath the dilapidated fort. With the ill-attitude of the government officials, the villagers intervened and intercepted the ongoing work. Heated arguments between the villagers and the officials led to a tense situation. The police intervened to calm down the agitating villagers.

The villagers, who were in a huge number and armed with sticks, sickles, chilly power and other weapons, warned the officials to stop the ongoing works or else they have to face the dire consequences.

Failed to find a way to pacify the villagers, the officials wound up their activity for the time being. Again, on the next day, the officials, comprising Adoni Revenue Division Officer (RDO) Obulesu, Special Collector Subba Reddy, Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) Gopal Rao and Pattikonda Circle Inspector Vikrama Simha, held a gram sabha at the village and revealed the purpose of the excavation and sought their cooperation.

A villager Nabi Rasool speaking to The Hans India said the government officials are carrying out the excavation against the will of the villagers. The officials are not even showing the government orders for carrying out the blasting works. They are just luring us by saying that the village would be given a share of 33 per cent from what is unearthed at the fort, said Nabi Rasool.

Convinced with the reasons, some villagers have extended their cooperation, but several others were spitting fire over the attitude of the government officials. Amid tight security, the officials have been undertaking excavations now.

According to sources, the Chennampalle fort was built in the 13th Century and the ruler Sri Krishnadevaraya fought several battles from the same fort. An underway was also constructed from the Chennampalle fort connecting the Gooty fort. During Sri Krishnadevaraya’s rule, a huge quantity of gold, diamonds, gems, rubies and other valuables were transported from other parts and hidden in the fort. Later, several forts have been abandoned and in due course most forts have reached to the dilapidated state.

Knowing about the hidden treasure, many have tried their luck in unearthing them but failed. Even one Kaleswar Baba, who visited the fort in 2007, has also said that a big treasure was hidden underneath the fort. Kurnool is famous for diamonds as they are found on the open fields during rainy season and people from the nook and corner were seen in the fields searching for the diamonds during the season.

In view of this, the district administration has decided to plunge into action and took up the excavation at the dilapidated fort. Though the work is being carried out for the last three days, nothing has been traced at the site. When asked about the excavation at the dilapidated fort, Obulesu said the excavation is being carried out to find out some minerals lying beneath the fort and nothing more than that.