Pigeon with Chinese numbers creates a flutter on Arunachal border

A pigeon with a tag bearing Chinese numbers has created a flutter in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh on the Sino-Indian border. Anjaw villagers captured the pigeon on Sunday.

"We got information that villagers have captured a bird with tags. The forest department has been alerted to find out details," Mamata Riba, deputy commissioner of Anjaw, told HT on Monday.

Amid talk that the pigeon could be part of a Chinese plan to carry out surveillance, officials did not say whether the bird was also fitted with transmitters or cameras.

A picture of the pigeon with the tag on its left leg has been widely shared on social media. District officials said this was the first recorded instance of such a



capture.

The tag on the bird could be for research purposes, said officials. "Unless ascertained otherwise, we can't surmise on our own since the nature of tagging is apparently for research. We are waiting for the forest department report," Riba said.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh asked chief ministers of five Himalayan states and senior Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officials on Saturday to remain "very vigilant" against Chinese transgression along the border.

Addressing the first meeting of CMs of Himalayan states, which are located along the Sino-Indian border, in Gangtok, Singh sought improvement of basic infrastructure in the areas so that locals do not migrate.