Hyderabad: Over two decades later, still no trace of stolen ‘Alam’ from Aza Khana Zehra

On April 11, 2003, unidentified persons had stolen the standard from the Aza Khana Zehra, a historic landmark Aashoorkhana built in memory of the Nizam’s mother Amtul Zehra Begum

Hyderabad: It’s been more than two decades and the mystery behind the disappearance or official ‘theft’ of an ‘Alam’ (standard) of historic and religious significance from the Aza Khana Zehra, in Darulshifa continues.

On April 11, 2003, unidentified persons had allegedly entered the historic landmark Ashoorkhana built in memory of Nizam’s mother Amtul Zehra Begum, also known as Madar-e-Deccan (Mother of Deccan) located at Darulshifa main road.

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The standard measuring three feet long was made up of an alloy comprising five metals including gold and silver was installed in the name of Imam-e-Hussain by Nizam VII, Mir Osman Ali Khan in 1956. There was also a necklace made of precious gems on the standard.

The theft came to light the next morning when the caretaker noticed the standard missing and alerted the committee members about it.

Shia Youth Conference president Syed Hamed Hussain Jaffery recalled that after tension built up following the theft, the committee installed the second set of Alam that was kept in a safe.

“The Nizam had got two sets of the standard made. After the theft of the first one, in the presence of the then Additional Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, AK Khan, the second set kept from the safe was installed,” he said.

The police formed several teams drawn from the Central Crime Station, the Commissioner’s Task Force and the local police to identify thieves. An official who supervised the investigation then said that police teams visited 25 States and three foreign countries to trace the ‘Alam’ but in vain.

Initially, the police stumbled upon some clues indicating the involvement of a local electrician behind the theft. The police picked up the electrician Karar, and his associate Jaffar, but the investigation did not progress much. Evidence was also collected, but the case remained unsolved.

There were reports in 2021, the Alam was found at a museum in Australia and the local Shia community demanded it be brought back. However, later it was learnt that it was not the Alam stolen from the Aza Khana Zehra and another relic dating back to the Qutb Shahi period.

Firasath Ali Baqri, a Shia leader said that police had closed the case for lack of evidence and demanded that the police reopen and investigate it afresh.

When contacted the current set of police officials in the Hyderabad Police said that they have no clue about the case or the status of its investigation. However, officials said if some concrete and workable information is received the case can be once again opened by submitting a memo in the court.