'Pak spy' pigeon caught near Amritsar border

The white pigeon carrying a Pakistani phone number and address on its body besides a rubber ring in its feet was found by border resident Harbans Lal Saini near his house and was brought to the police station in Ramdas, 40 kms from Amritsar.

Ramdas Station House Officer Jagjit Singh Chahal said that he has informed his superiors who have directed that nobody should be allowed to visit the pigeon and an update would be passed to the SSP office at least thrice in day.

Police suspect that the pigeon, which landed in Indian territory, may be on 'special mission of spying' and might have been pushed by Pakistan intelligence agency Inter Services Intelligence.

The pigeon is being kept in an air conditioned room which is being guarded by policemen. The doctor from the state animal husbandry department carried out a medical examination of the bird.

After the recent killing of two Pakistan-based terrorists in a gunbattle in Gurdaspur district, special instructions were issued to border inhabitants to report anything suspicious to the police, the SHO said.

Chahal said he has been asked by his seniors not to leave the police station or to proceed on leave until the fate of pigeon was decided.

The number '303-6284620' was written in red on the pigeon's feathers along with a rubber stamp -- Islamabad Wazirabad Pakistan.

Chahal said they suspected that the pigeon must have landed on Indian soil from Pakistan with a message, which has not been traced so far.

The SHO said that Pakistani pigeon are easily recognisable as they have a 'different look.'

"There are five to six families on Indo-Pak border village that have keen interest in keeping pigeons in their houses. They have told us about the difference between Indian and Pakistani birds," he said.