Shimla, Dec 17: The Himachal Pradesh Police have reached out to their counterparts in Punjab and Rajasthan, as well as officials of the Indian Air Force, after multiple aeroplane-shaped balloons bearing Pakistan-related markings were spotted across different districts of the state in recent weeks.
The latest incident was reported from Chalet village under the Daulatpur police post, where residents were alarmed to find an aeroplane-shaped balloon with “PIA” (Pakistan International Airlines) written on it on the roof of a villager’s house. The villager immediately informed the police, following which a team reached the spot, seized the balloon and conducted a search of the surrounding area as a precautionary measure to rule out the presence of any suspicious objects.
According to the police, no gadgets, surveillance devices, trackers or other suspicious materials have been found inside any of the balloons so far. While no FIR has been registered, the matter is being investigated and local vendors are being questioned to ascertain the origin of the balloons.
Earlier, on December 8, three similar balloons carrying the Pakistani flag and the slogan “I Love Pakistan” were recovered from Tatehra village in the Gagret sub-division. Comparable balloons have also been found in Hamirpur and Kangra districts over the past few months.
Police said they are coordinating with law enforcement agencies in states bordering Pakistan, where similar incidents have been reported, to gather inputs and determine whether the balloons drifted in from across the border or originated elsewhere.
