Police Investigate Discovery of Pakistan International Airlines Balloon in Jammu
A Pakistan International Airlines balloon was found in Jammu, prompting police investigation into its origins and purpose.
Jammu, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : Authorities in Jammu are investigating the discovery of a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) balloon found in the Gol Gujral area. The balloon was located around 9 a.m. on a farm owned by Manjeet Singh, the son of local resident Kripal Singh.
The police have taken the balloon into custody as they continue their investigation. Such balloons have been found in border areas before, with similar incidents reported in regions of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. Just recently, on July 30, police in Rajouri district reported finding a PIA balloon in the village of Ajmatabad.
The balloon, which is white and red, prominently displayed the PIA logo. Local residents discovered it and promptly handed it over to the authorities. Police are now examining whether this incident is an isolated event or if there might be other motives behind it.
Security agencies have previously recovered balloons and promotional materials linked to Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir’s border districts. While many of these balloons are believed to be harmless items carried by the wind, officials are taking every case seriously, especially in light of increased drone activity in the area.
Earlier this year, a balloon from Pakistan was found in the Arnia sector of Jammu district in April. In March, a balloon shaped like an airplane was located in the Sarhoti village of Rajouri, bearing the PIA name in Urdu. In February, two balloons were discovered in the Akhnoor sector, featuring images of Pakistani currency and a mobile phone number from Pakistan.
In another incident in February, a green and white balloon shaped like an airplane was found in the RS Pura sector, also marked with the PIA logo, alongside a yellow heart-shaped balloon. In January, a promotional toy balloon with PIA written in both English and Urdu was found near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector.
Most of these items are typically used for commercial or celebratory purposes in Pakistan and can drift across the border. However, security forces are investigating to ensure that there are no connections to espionage, dangerous activities, or other suspicious motives.
