MHOW: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) deployed ground penetrating radar (GPR) to identify structures buried in the Bhojshala / Kamal Maulana mosque compound as the court-ordered survey entered the 67th day on Monday.
The GPR, brought from Hyderabad, is being used in the inner side of the main hall – considered to be the sanctum sanctorum of Waghdevi temple – and ‘Hawan Kund’ outside it, Ashish Goyal, representative of petitioner Hindu Front for Justice, told TOI.He is accompanying the ASI team on the survey, as is a Muslim representative.
It was also used on the eastern side of the complex, near the main gate, he said, adding: “GPR survey is good as it will limit excavation.” The GPR machine is scanning the complex in grids of one square metre each, Goyal added.
Excavation continued in the northern side, outside the Bhojshala main monument. Three stone artifacts have been unearthed. One of them is made of white marble and resembles a broken idol, Goyal said, adding the other two look like ‘simple stones’, but ASI has taken all three for further examination. A similar idol-like stone artifact was recovered during excavation inside the main hall last month.
The ASI team went to Kamaal Moulana dargah in the afternoon and studied the structure. The dargah premises are likely to be scanned on Tuesday.