TAXILA, April 12: A British tourist and her two local companions were looted by armed bandits near Taxila Museum here on Thursday.

Police and Department of Archaeology sources said a British tourist later identified as Ms Bindal Snan along with two local people including a driver came to visit the museum.

She was taken around by the department’s site attendant, Abdul Rehman. As they approached Sirkap remains, four men equipped with pistols and a dagger appeared and made them hostage. The men later fled away taking with them two cell phones, a digital camera and cash worth Rs 10,000.

The victim informed officials at the museum and drove back to Islamabad. Talking to Dawn, curator Taxila Museum Nasir Khan confirmed the incident. He said the issue was brought to the notice of local police who cordoned off the area and started efforts to trace the culprits.

Responding to a question, he expressed deep concern over the unfortunate incident and termed it “tragic” because no such thing was ever reported in the past.—Correspondent