New Delhi: Last week, India's security agencies engaged in a "surgical strike" on a suspected infiltrator from across the Pakistan border... an avian!
The suspect is a gray pigeon whose wings have been clipped to reduce the risk of flight.
"The wings of the pigeon have been clipped to ensure the suspected spy does not fly back to Pakistan," cops told The Telegraph.
"We have sent a preliminary report to the Union home ministry, including an X-ray report of the bird which did not reveal anything suspicious."
As per the latest information, the undercover bird agent was feeding on wheat and grams.
On October 2, the pigeon was "arrested". The bird had a note addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi tied to its foot when it landed at the Border Security Force's Simbal post in Pathankot's Bamial sector.
The message, in Urdu, read "Modiji, we are not the same as we were in 1971 - Jaish-e-Mohammad", a police source said.
Reportedly, an inspector at Bamial police station said the wings of the pigeon were clipped with the help of a veterinary worker. Security guards also bought a cage for its stay.
War pigeon:
Due to their homing ability, speed, and altitude, pigeons have long played an important role in war and were often used as military messengers.
Carrier pigeons were used to carry messages in World War I and World War II. 32 such pigeons were presented with the Dickin Medal.
A pigeon, Commando, was used in service with the British Army during the World War 2 to carry crucial intelligence. It carried out more than ninety missions during the war.
Image courtesy: Wikipedia
The messenger pigeon's job was not free from dangerous as nearby enemy soldiers often tried to shoot them down, knowing that released birds were carrying important information.
Named "The Mocker", one pigeon, flew 52 missions before he was wounded.