Pigeon held in India on suspicion of spying for Pakistan

A pigeon from Pakistan suspected to be on a "spying mission" was caught on Thursday near the Indo-Pak border, police said. The white pigeon carrying a Pakistani phone number and address on its body besides a rubber ring in its feet was found by border resident Harbans Lal Saini near his house and taken to a police station 40 kms from Amritsar.

SHO Police station Ramdas Jagjit Singh Chahal said that he has informed his superiors who have directed that nobody should be allowed to visit the pigeon and an update would be passed to the SSP office at least thrice in day.

Police suspect that the pigeon, which landed in Indian territory, may be on "special mission of spying" and might have been pushed by Pakistan intelligence agency ISI. The pigeon is being kept in an air conditioned room which is being guarded by policemen. A medical examination of the bird was carried out by the doctor from the state animal husbandry department.



Chahal said he has been asked by his seniors not to leave the police station or to proceed on leave until the fate of pigeon was decided. The number '303-6284620' was written in red on the pigeon's feathers along with a rubber stamp – Islamabad Wazirabad-Pakistan.

Chahal said they suspected that the pigeon must have landed on Indian soil from Pakistan with a message, which has not be traced so far. The SHO said that Pakistani pigeon are easily recognisable as they have a "different look".

"There are five to six families on Indo-Pak border village that have keen interest in keeping pigeons in their houses. They have told us about the difference between Indian and Pakistani birds," he said.