The security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have captured a pigeon which was found carrying a chit with a message to blow up the Jammu railway station. The J&K police caught the bird which was believed to have been flying in from Pakistan across the international border. The officials have since beefed up the security in the region, reported PTI.
The threat note had IED, Jammu station written on it in Urdu and English. Apart from this, lines like “Kashmir freedom”, and “time has come” were also found on the note, PTI reported citing sources.
“The pigeon believed to be flying in from Pakistan was caught in the Katmaria area along the International Border at around 9 pm on August 18. A chit was found tied to its claws carrying a message to blow up the Jammu railway station,” a senior police officer said, quoted PTI.
First time a pigeon has been caught
Security officials said Pakistan has been known to send balloons, flags and pigeons to the India side of the International Border (IB) carrying different messages. However, the officials said, this is the first time that a pigeon carrying a threat letter has been captured, quoted PTI.
Taking the matter seriously, the agencies have begun a probe to find if it was a mischief or a well-planned conspiracy. Meanwhile, the agencies have intensified the security around the railway station and the tracks.
Moreover, dog squads and bomb disposal teams have also been deployed, with local police on high alert, the officials said. The report cited security experts and said that the pigeon could have been specially trained and released from across the border with a threat message tied to its claws.
An expert said these matters have to be taken seriously.
India-Pakistan relations
India and Pakistan witnessed increased tension in April this year after terrorists killed 26 innocent tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. India immediately put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, stating that “blood and water” cannot flow together.
Holding Pakistan responsible for breeding terrorists on its soil, India launched Operation Sindoor in early May targeting terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). However, Pakistan retaliated by launching attacks at civilian sites in India. The defence forces neutralised all such attempts, and later destroyed several crucial air bases in Pakistan.
This continued for four continuous nights. The two sides reached an understanding to stop the attacks after Pakistan military reached out to India.
(With agency inputs)