Police hands over Pakistani pigeon to bird lover

Nearly nine days after it was spotted, caught and handed over to the local police, the police has now handed over the pigeon which was suspected to have flown from across the border from Pakistan to a bird lover here to take its care. The pigeon was on Wednesday handed over to a bird lover of the area Ramanjit Singh, police said.

Ramanjit is owner of a facility which takes care of birds and pets said SSP Pathankot, Rakesh Kaushal. The white female pigeon has been kept in the company of a male pigeon here, Ramanjit Singh told reporters. He said that he is feeding the birds with wheat, lentils, pigeon peas and black grams. "The birds are periodically medically examined also," said Singh.

Police had earlier guarded the fidgety 'intruder' from Pakistan who had created a flutter in Pathankot. The white-coloured pigeon, with Pakistani seal and Tehsil Shakargarh, district Narowal stamped on it in Urdu, was spotted and caught by one Ramesh Kumar from his house at Manwal village on the Indo-Pak border.

As the bird looked 'suspect' due to the Pakistani marking, Ramesh took it to the Bamial police station where it remained in custody for the past few days. Pigeon fanciers in the sensitive border area had earlier told the police that Pakistani doves were easily distinguishable from their Indian brethren.