Security agencies in Himachal Pradesh have launched a detailed investigation following a series of mysterious incidents involving balloons bearing the markings of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) that have landed in the state's border districts. The discoveries in Una and Kangra have triggered alertness and a multi-state probe to determine their origin and intent.
Recent Incidents and Police Response
The most recent event occurred on December 13 in Chalet village of Una district. Alert villagers noticed an aeroplane-shaped balloon with the clear inscription "PIA" on a rooftop and immediately informed the local police. Officers swiftly seized the object for examination. A thorough check confirmed that it did not contain any hidden spying devices.
This was not an isolated case. Just days earlier, on December 8, a similar balloon sighting was reported from Tatehra village in the Gagret sub-division of Una district. Earlier this year, on May 30, a balloon featuring both the Pakistani national symbol and the 'PIA' acronym was discovered near the Chattri Mata Temple in Suliali panchayat, located in the Nurpur area of Kangra district.
While no First Information Report (FIR) has been officially registered in these cases, the police have not taken the matter lightly. They have consulted with experts from the Indian Air Force, who also examined the balloons and ruled out the presence of any clandestine surveillance equipment.
A Recurring Mystery with a Border Puzzle
The central question puzzling authorities is how these objects are reaching Himachal Pradesh, a state that does not share an international border with Pakistan. To unravel this, the Una police have initiated coordination with their counterparts in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Rajasthan, where such mysterious balloon incidents are reported more frequently.
"We are actively trying to trace the origin of these balloons and understand the pathway through which they are arriving here," stated an officer from the Una police. "Collaboration with the police departments of adjoining states is a key part of this effort."
Historical Context of Balloon Sightings
This phenomenon is not entirely new for the border districts of Kangra and Una. The police have a history of dealing with similar objects:
- In 2013, a cluster of balloons displaying the Pakistan flag and a political party's symbol landed in the Dhameta area of Kangra's Nurpur subdivision. Police later theorized they were likely released during a political rally across the border.
- In 2016, a Pakistani balloon was found in Tibbi village of the Indora area in Kangra, prompting the local police to contact Punjab police.
- Similar sightings were also recorded in the state in 2021, 2023, and 2024, indicating a sporadic but persistent pattern.
The consistent factor across these years is the heightened state of alert and the procedural response involving security checks and inter-state coordination, even if most objects have turned out to be benign.
The investigation remains ongoing, with security forces treating each new sighting with seriousness to rule out any potential threat to national security, while also seeking to solve the logistical mystery of their journey into Himachal.
