The Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Investigation Department (CID), is probing the possibility of Pakistan Intelligence Agency receiving sensitive information across the Line of Control (LoC) through the use of over 150 smuggled pigeons.
The CID is investigating a case in which 153 pigeons were seized by the police that were being smuggled from the Punjab border to the sensitive Pulwama district of south Kashmir, a police officer said.
“Few days ago, police seized few cartons from a Kashmir-bound vehicle in which 153 pigeons were being smuggled to the Kashmir Valley. The pigeons had strange pink marking and suspicious rings after which the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jammu referred the case to the CID for investigation,” Sunil Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu, told PTI.
When contacted, the DC Jammu, Simrandeep Singh, said he got message about pigeons being used to transmit secret messages across the border.
“The pigeons were packed in extremely cruel conditions. A case under prevention of cruelty to Animals Act was filed and the court released the pigeons and the man after depositing the fine,” he said.
He added that after becoming suspicious of the strange pink markings on the pigeons and different types of rings attached to them, he instructed the CID to probe the matter before the birds are released.
The pigeons had different colour rings and even special magnetic rings attached to them. The birds have been handed over to an NGO- Save Animals Value Environment (SAVE) and would be released only after the investigation is completed.
“The CID is investigating the case and after that decision will be taken whether to release the birds or not. As of now the investigation is going on,” the DC said.
