*Directions issued against release in light of IAF’s concern
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 13: Amidst growing concern of the security forces over use of non-conventional methods by the hostile agencies to cause disturbances and for spying purposes in Jammu and Kashmir, over 150 pigeons, which were being transported to militancy-infested South Kashmir without any plausible reason, have been seized in Jammu and kept at the disposal of an NGO working in the field of animal rights for examination by the intelligence agencies.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that few days back police intercepted a Kashmir valley bound Tavera vehicle during routine checking near Warehouse and subjected it to checking. In the vehicle, police party noticed some tightly squeezed cartons and on enquiry those travelling in the vehicle stated that they were carrying fruit to Kashmir valley.
However, police became suspicious and opened the boxes from which a total of 153 pigeons were recovered. Several pigeons were having rings of different colors tied on their legs which further alerted the police personnel in the light of recent alert issued by the Indian Air Force (IAF) cautioning about use of non-conventional methods by the neighboring country and anti-national elements for spying purpose.
The matter was immediately brought to the notice of higher authorities and accordingly these pigeons were handed over to SAVE-an NGO working in the field of animal rights after bringing the matter to the notice of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), sources said, adding “the pigeons are still in the custody of NGO, which is taking care of the feed and water requirements of the birds”.
Stating that those who were carrying such a large number of pigeons to South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, which is still infested with militancy, gave conflicting statements when questioned by the police, sources said, “personnel of several intelligence agencies have started examining the pigeons from different aspects as carrier pigeons can easily be trained and used in photographic surveillance and reconnaissance by the anti-national elements”, adding “moreover, there is opinion among the security forces that terrorists can easily develop skills in the use of carrier pigeons for spying purpose”.
“What to talk of Central intelligence agencies even the Counter Intelligence (CI) and CID wings of Jammu and Kashmir Police have started examining the pigeons”, sources said, adding “the NGO has explicitly been told not to release the birds till clearance from the intelligence agencies”.
Stating that birds have become embroiled in the long-running animosity of Pakistan towards India and pigeons were also seized a number of times in the past, sources said that in 2015 security forces seized a pigeon on suspicion of it being used for espionage by Pakistan and also X-rayed it to check for spy camera, transmitter or hidden clip”.
It is pertinent to mention here that balloons and a pigeon with messages landed in Treva area of Arnia Sector and Raipur area of Samba sector following surgical strikes by the Indian Army in the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Even in Pathankote, a pigeon was found carrying a threatening note written in Urdu to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Not only in spying the carrier pigeons can also be used in psychological operation by the enemies by conveying threatening messages to the civilians to unsettle those living in hamlets along the borders and to confuse or mislead the security forces”, sources said.
When contacted, Rumpy Madan, Chairperson of SAVE-an NGO working in the field of animal rights, confirmed that 153 pigeons have been kept at NGO’s disposal till clearance from the intelligence agencies. “We have been told that it is a case of apprehended danger”, she said, adding “the pigeons are having different body colors, identification marks and different colored rings on their legs”.
“The suspicion is obvious as the statements made by the driver of the vehicle and those carrying the pigeons were conflicting”, she said, adding “had the pigeons been transported for genuine purpose there was no justification behind their being kept in squeezed boxes that too without any ventilation point and water/feed”.
In response to a question, she said that generally such a large number of birds are transported in specially designed vehicles as per the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, adding those carrying the pigeons were blatantly flouting all the provisions of this Act. “The wings of the birds were tightly fixed by using wires, safety pins and other objects”, she informed.
She confirmed that intelligence agencies have started examining these birds from security point of view, adding “pigeons can easily be trained for spying or messaging purposes and they have the unique quality of returning to its trainer even after covering huge distance”.
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