NEW DEHLI: A pigeon has found itself in the crosshairs of cross-border tensions after being captured by locals in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir on suspicion of espionage. According to a report by the Kashmir Media Service (KMS), the bird was apprehended by a local boy who grew suspicious of its unusual markings.
The pigeon’s alleged evidence includes stamps on its wings and distinctive red and yellow rings on both legs. Inscribed on these rings were the phrases “Rahmat Sarkar,” “Ridwan 2025,” and a series of numbers, which triggered security concerns among villagers. The bird was subsequently handed over to local police, who are set to transfer it to specialized Indian security agencies for what has been termed a “further investigation.”
This incident is not an isolated one in the militarily sensitive region along the Line of Control (LoC). Security forces have a documented history of viewing avian activity with high suspicion. In previous years, multiple pigeons and other birds have been detained or examined on similar charges of being potential carriers of messages or surveillance equipment from across the border.
While officials often treat such cases with procedural seriousness, citing legitimate security protocols, they have also drawn international attention and bemusement. Security analysts note that the use of carrier pigeons for basic communication is historically plausible, though technologically archaic in the modern era. The incident underscores the pervasive climate of vigilance and mistrust in one of the world’s most heavily militarized regions, where even the flight of a bird can trigger a full security protocol. There has been no immediate comment from Indian paramilitary or army officials on this latest detention.
