Silver coins bearing image of King George have been found in a river bed in Bharatpur district.

While digging up the dry river bed of Banganga river in Bhusavar in Bahratpur district, people found old time silver coins bearing image of King George. The news spread like fire and people from nearby villages also reached the site to grab these silver coins. Many people have been ‘fortunate’ enough to find coins. The place bore a competition like scene where people wanted to grab as many coins as possible.

Villagers from Hingota, Malaheda and many other villages close to Bhusavar rushed to the spot upon hearing the news and tried their luck. Ladies and children also joined with spades and axes and dug up the place.

The coins bearing King George’s image date back to year 1904 and 1919. Villagers started thronging the place in no time grabbing as many coins and by the time police reached the place, a number of villagers had already dug up and acquired a few coins.

Nearly 50 coins were collected by the villagers who went to the river with digging instruments.

Bharatpur district collector Narendra Kumar Gupta said officials have been asked to enquire into the matter. “Anything which is found underground is a government asset. Legal action will be taken against locals who took the coins from the river,” he said.

Ashish Chaudhary of Malakheda village said soil traders were digging near the banks when they found the buried coins.

Dinesh Singh from Salempur Khurd said villagers had been collecting coins from the river for nearly 20 days. Generally, women go early in the morning in search of the coins.