Two rare artefacts in the Indian Museum in Kolkata have been irretrievably damaged, with the ASI writing to the Ministry of Culture in protest at the callous handling.

While the damage to the right foot of the second Century BC statue of a Yakshi was noticed a few weeks ago, chips on the chest and belly of the ‘Lion Capital of Rampurva,’ a unique specimen of Mauryan sculpture, were discovered last year.

Founded in 1814, the Indian Museum was the first in the Asia-Pacific and is renowned for its collection of rare artefacts.

Two inspection reports by the ASI, accessed by The Hindu , suspect that the damage was caused by mishandling of the pieces. “There is a definite damage above the right foot of the sculpture near the ankle. Though the museum staff is of the opinion it was caused by flaking, we did not feel so,” says the report on the Yakshi statue. “The dent is quite deep and abrasive as per standard norms of flaking.” A thorough investigation, it says, “is justifiable under the circumstances.”

The damage to the ‘Lion Capital’ of Rampurva, unearthed by famous archaeologist Dayaram Sahni in 1907-08, was definitely the result of faulty process of shifting, says the report. The experts who prepared the report were told that the authorities decided to shift this heavy sculpture in two pieces as was done earlier.

Sources have told The Hindu that copies of the reports have been sent to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi. The developments come at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a petition filed by the family of Sunil Kumar Upadhyay, preservation officer at the Indian Museum, who mysteriously disappeared from his apartment in the city on July 3, 2014 and has been untraced since.