More than 2300-year-old Asokan Minor Rock Edict in Bihar’s Sasaram, which was converted into a Mazar after years of encroachment, was reclaimed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) after the intervention of district authorities.

“Emperor Asokan’s Minor Rock Edict at Sasaram in Rohtas, Bihar was encroached for long. The key of the site, which is a protected monument, was handed over to officials of the Archaeological Survey of India after intervention of district authorities,” the ASI said in a tweet on November 29.

“Asoka inscription of Sahasaram (232 or 231 BCE) consists of eight lines in archaic Brahmi characters. A portion of the inscription is damaged. The inscriptions, probably contains a date referring to the death of Buddha; but no convincing interpretation of it has yet been found,” the ASI further said.

Earlier, the inscription was converted into a Mazar by covering it with a green cloth and coating it with white lime. An annual Urs was also regularly organised by declaring it as the tomb of a Sufi saint and regular Islamic prayers were also offered. The gate of the monument was kept closed following this illegal construction.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had recognised it as a protected monument in 2008 and put up a conservation board close to the inscription at Kandara which was later taken away by the encroachers.

The District Magistrate was required to remove the encroachments surrounding the Ashokan edict as per the orders of ASI. Following this, the District Magistrate directed the Sub-District Magistrate (SDM) of Sasaram to take necessary actions. The Markazi Muharram Committee refused to follow the order of SDM of handing over the key to the administration of the encroached site. But later with the strict actions of the district administration of Sasaram, the site was reclaimed and handed over to the ASI.