Pigeon detained after threatening Indian Prime Minister
Message referencing 1971 war between India and Pakistan found on bird close to militarised border
Indian officials have taken a pigeon into custody after it was found carrying a threatening note addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi near the country's heavily militarised border with Pakistan.
"We took it into custody last evening," police inspector Rakesh Kumar toldAFP.
He added the message referenced the 1971 conflict between India and Pakistan: "The Border Security Force found it with a note in Urdu saying something like, 'Modi, we're not the same people from 1971. Now each and every child is ready to fight against India.'"
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It is believed to have been signed by the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, reports Sky News.
It is unclear what will now happen to the pigeon.
This is not the first case of avian warfare between the two nations - last year, Indian police seized and searched a bird they suspected Pakistan was using for espionage, fearing it was carrying spy equipment.
In 2013, Indian security forces found a dead falcon fitted with a small camera and in 2010, another pigeon was detained over spying fears, says the Guardian.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The areas of Punjab and Kashmir have been a flashpoint in recent months with militants from both sides launching attacks.
Tensions have reached boiling point in the last week after an Indian military operation hit militants across the border without warning – a move said to have infuriated the Pakistani government.
-
Film reviews: ‘Marty Supreme’ and ‘Is This Thing On?’Feature A born grifter chases his table tennis dreams and a dad turns to stand-up to fight off heartbreak
-
Political cartoons for December 14Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include a new White House flag, Venezuela negotiations, and more
-
Heavenly spectacle in the wilds of CanadaThe Week Recommends ‘Mind-bending’ outpost for spotting animals – and the northern lights
-
Normalising relations with the Taliban in AfghanistanThe Explainer The regime is coming in from the diplomatic cold, as countries lose hope of armed opposition and seek cooperation on counterterrorism, counter-narcotics and deportation of immigrants
-
Pakistan: Trump’s ‘favourite field marshal’ takes chargeIn the Spotlight Asim Munir’s control over all three branches of Pakistan’s military gives him ‘sweeping powers’ – and almost unlimited freedom to use them
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Will Starmer’s India visit herald blossoming new relations?Today's Big Question Despite a few ‘awkward undertones’, the prime minister’s trip shows signs of solidifying trade relations