Police Get Inquiries on Quran Manuscript in India
A professor from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, visited Mysuru to take a look at the Quran, believed to have been written during the Mughal period, dating back to the mid-17th century. The professor, too, was of the opinion that it may have been written 400 years ago, agreeing with noted historian professor B Sheik Ali, said SP Abhinav Khare.
The copy of the Quran has gold-coloured pages with italic letters in black ink, said Khare.
“We've sent them a copy of the video of the Quran, and officials there have communicated through phone and email,” he said, adding that it appears like a Quran look-alike of the Mughal period, which was stolen from a museum in Srinagar a decade ago.
But archaeology department officials too are quite sure, and said they would visit Mysuru to take a look at this Quran, he explained, the Times of India reported.
The Quran was stolen from a wooden almirah where it was on display, in Pratap Singh Museum, in 2003. A case was registered at Raj Bagh police station in Srinagar, but it has remained untraced. J&K cops were searching for it. Mysuru police arrested a gang of 10 members in connection with the sale of the Quran on August 10, which could lead them to the thieves.
Khare said the Quran is now in the custody of court, which will take a decision on what is to be done with the Holy Scripture.
Police sources claimed the Quran stolen from Srinagar bore a symbol of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the son of Shah Jahan, but the Quran recovered by Mysuru cops doesn't have this. Even today the letters are not effaced and a thin white paper is placed between each sheet to prevent damage to the letters.
