BHOPAL: Nearly two decades after a historic cannon disappeared from Narwar Fort in Madhya Pradesh, thieves have struck again.In a daring overnight operation, an armed gang of 25 to 30 men allegedly stormed the centuries-old hill fort in Shivpuri district and escaped with a rare 16th-century cannon after threatening unarmed security guards.This fort is under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).The latest theft has revived memories of a similar incident in 2007, when another historic Mughal-era cannon, measuring about seven feet in length and weighing nearly 30 quintals, was stolen from the fort’s Kachahari Mahal premises.The latest heist took place on the intervening night of July 15 and 16 at Narwar Fort, a historic hill fort associated in local tradition with Kush, the son of Lord Rama, and the legendary King Nala and Damayanti.The stolen cannon was one of 14 historic artillery pieces displayed in the fort’s open courtyard. Only 13 remain.According to security guards, the gang entered the fort through a rugged rear approach using loading vehicles brought specifically to transport the massive cannon.Armed with weapons, the men allegedly surrounded the guards and threatened to kill them before hauling away the centuries-old artillery piece.Investigators believe the theft was executed in two stages.Officials said the gang had allegedly attempted to steal the same cannon on July 5, when they pushed the heavy artillery piece from its original position but failed to transport it because of its weight.The gang returned on the night of July 15-16 with loading vehicles and the equipment required to transport the cannon.Tyre marks found along the fort’s rear access route are being examined as part of the investigation.The stolen cannon is among a collection of rare artillery pieces displayed at the fort.Archaeology officials said the cannons are made from special metal alloys, including brass, copper, bronze and ashtadhatu (an eight-metal alloy), and bear royal insignia along with inscriptions in Persian and Devanagari scripts, making them historically significant.Though officially priceless, investigators believe such rare military relics have a good amount in the illegal international antiquities market.A complaint was lodged at Narwar police station by the fort’s caretaker on July 16, following which police launched an investigation.Gwalior Range IG Arvind Saxena said the absence of surveillance infrastructure inside the fort has made the investigation more challenging.“There are no CCTV cameras inside the fort premises. We are examining footage from cameras installed on roads leading to and from the fort to identify the suspects and trace the route used to transport the stolen cannon. We have sought detailed information from the Archaeology Department and are also looking into the fort’s history, including earlier incidents of antique theft,” Saxena said.Police officers said the possibility of an international antique-smuggling gang being involved cannot be ruled out.