Unknown vandals allegedly destroyed a part of Zafar Mahal, a 19th-century structure, in Mehrauli, reports the Indian Express.
image for illustration: Zafar Mahal by Parth.rkt, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Indian Express writes:
… The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) attributed the damage to “anti-social elements” who purportedly kicked in a jali (lattice) screen situated to the left of the entry to the premises.
Notably, the screen surrounds what is considered the ‘empty grave’ of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar….
Conservation activist Sohail Hashmi raised concerns about the inadequate protection to such historical sites. “Even if they are protected monuments, they have one guard in charge of several monuments scattered across large distances” Hashmi stated. He said local residents often encroach upon these sites for various activities…
