'Spy pigeon' detained in India after crossing border from Pakistan

Published May 29, 2015
Although no case has been registered at the Bamiyal police station an entry was made which termed the bird as a 'suspected spy'.  — Reuters/file
Although no case has been registered at the Bamiyal police station an entry was made which termed the bird as a 'suspected spy'. — Reuters/file

PATHANKOT: A pigeon which crossed the Indo-Pak border into India's Pathankot area was captured and detained for being a 'suspected spy' on Thursday, according to a report published on The Times of India website.

The development comes two days after India's Intelligence Bureau (IB) issued an alert to the Punjab Police regarding suspected militant activity in the area.

A stamped message and a wire-like object on the 'intruder', which landed on a mud-and-brick house in Manwal village situated four kilometers from the Indo-Pak border, raised suspicions of the security agencies in India.

The TOI report said that a part of the message stamped on the bird was in Urdu, while the numbers appeared to be that of a phone in Pakistan's Narowal district.

The 14-year-old son of the house owner, where the bird had landed, became sceptical upon noticing the markings in Urdu on the bird and rushed it to the nearest police station.

The bird was taken to a veterinary doctor where it underwent an x-ray and medical examination.

"Nothing adverse has been found, but we have kept the bird in our custody," TOI quoted Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rakesh Kaushal as saying.

"This is a rare instance of a bird from Pakistan being spotted here. We have caught a few spies here. The area is sensitive, given its proximity to Jammu, where infiltration is quite common," he added.

Although no case has been registered at the Bamiyal police station, an entry was made which termed the bird as a 'suspected spy', the details of which were also sent to the Border Security Force and IB.

The incident comes a few month after a similar incident was reported on the Indian side of the Indo-Pak border. Another pigeon had also been detained by Indian authorities in 2011.

No significant development was reported.

In December 2011, a monkey had crossed from India into Pakistan's Bahawalpur district which was captured by wildlife officials. The monkey was taken to Bahawalpur Zoo, where officials named him Bobby, according to a report on NDTV website.

Opinion

Seizing the moment

Seizing the moment

The provinces bear the primary responsibility for improving access to family planning services, particularly for poorer families.

Editorial

PIA privatisation
Updated 11 Jul, 2025

PIA privatisation

While it does give the privatisation authorities a much-needed head-start, it will not be sustainable unless preceded by policy and regulatory reforms.
Beyond expectations
11 Jul, 2025

Beyond expectations

THESE are tough times, but the country is lucky enough to still be considered home by a large expatriate workforce,...
Train in vain
11 Jul, 2025

Train in vain

TALK of ‘revival’ of the long-dead Karachi Circular Railway has turned into a running joke for denizens of this...
No negotiations
10 Jul, 2025

No negotiations

IT seems like the appeal from Kot Lakhpat Jail has fallen on deaf ears. “[…] The time for negotiations has...
Speech policing
Updated 10 Jul, 2025

Speech policing

Sweeping accusations have once more exposed just how broadly and arbitrarily Peca is being applied.
Continued detention
10 Jul, 2025

Continued detention

THE continued detention of BYC head Mahrang Baloch and five other activists indicates that the state is uninterested...