A pigeon tagged with camera and chip has been caught by marine fishermen while the feathered species was perched on a fishing trawl.
The rescue of the pigeon fitted with suspicious objects has left the law-enforcing agency in a tizzy amid speculation of the bird being used for subversive ploy by foreign countries.
The fishermen, who hailed from a coastal hamlet in the close vicinity of Paradip port town, later handed over the bird to the officials of Paradip marine police station.
The pigeon has been handed over to the veterinary officials after the chip and camera-like object was removed from its leg. Besides, Urdu or Arabic inscriptions were found on the bird’s wings.
The tagged objects are being sent to the State Forensic Laboratory in Bhubaneswar to ascertain whether the devices were tagged for spying purposes. The cyber wing of State police has also been informed of the incident, said Additional Superintendent of Police, Nimain Charan Sethi.