SUKKUR: Several artifacts were damaged by unknown suspects who resorted to digging at `Moomal Ji Mari`a site declared protected heritage under the Antiquities Act, 1975 on Sunday evening.

An FIR was registered against the unknown suspects, said an official statement issued after the Sukkur deputy commissioner, along with some officials concerned and local residents, visited the site and found that artifacts and a portion of the site were damaged.

`Ancient potsherds, jars and the excavated areawere compromised overnight,` the statement said.

The DC said that under the Sindh Culture Heritage Protection Act of 1994, any damage, destruction or defacement to property designated as `heritage` is deemed a criminal offence.

Offenders could be fined up to Rs100,000, or jailed for three years, or both, he said.

The DC had held a meeting in his office on March 20 on a directive of Sindh High Court`s Sukkur bench issued on a petition (No.

D-1105/2028) to visit the site and inform the court that the historical and archaeological locations were safeguarded from further damage, with assurance of support from local authorities.