Police Seize 894 kg of Illegal Shaligram Stones in Mustang

Authorities have seized a large quantity of illegally transported shaligram stones in Mustang district. A total of 894 kilograms of shaligrams, packed in 34 white sacks, were confiscated at the Chhusang Check Post in Baragung Muktikshetra-3, according to the District Police Office.

The stones were discovered during a routine inspection of a Bolero jeep (Ga 3 Cha 8152) en route from Ghami in Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality-3 to Jomsom. Police became suspicious and conducted a search, during which the shaligrams were found, said Police Inspector Bishal Adhikari, the Information Officer at the District Police Office.

Investigations revealed that 41-year-old Kunsang Renjing Gurung of Loghekar Damodarkunda-5, Surkhang, had been transporting the stones illegally. The jeep, its driver, and the owner of the stones have been handed over to the Annapurna Conservation Area Office in Jomsom for further investigation.

Rajesh Gupta, head of the Jomsom office of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), confirmed that the seized vehicle, individuals, and shaligrams have been forwarded to the ACAP head office in Pokhara for legal action.

Shaligram stones, found in the Damodarkund area and along the Kaligandaki River, hold significant religious value in Hinduism as sacred symbols of Lord Vishnu. While individual collection and transport of shaligrams for personal devotion is allowed, the local administration, police, and ACAP have intensified efforts to prevent their large-scale commercial exploitation.

With improved road access and a surge in tourism—drawing nearly half a million visitors annually—the illegal trade in shaligram stones has become increasingly rampant. Retailers in towns like Kagbeni, Muktinath, and Jomsom openly sell the stones, raising growing concerns over conservation efforts and sustainable management of this religious and natural heritage.