Authorities in Himachal Pradesh have launched a coordinated investigation into the repeated sightings of aeroplane-shaped balloons adorned with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) markings or Pakistani flags, reported across multiple districts including Una, Kangra, and Hamirpur over recent weeks and months. The Himachal Pradesh police have proactively reached out to counterparts in Punjab and Rajasthan—states closer to the international border where analogous incidents have occurred—to gather insights and trace potential origins, while also consulting Indian Air Force experts for technical assessment.

Officials have repeatedly confirmed that thorough examinations of the recovered balloons reveal no attached suspicious devices, such as gadgets, surveillance equipment, trackers, or any hazardous materials, alleviating immediate fears of espionage or threats. Despite the absence of such elements, the recurring nature of these discoveries has prompted heightened vigilance, with inquiries extending to local vendors and manufacturers to determine if the balloons could be commercially produced or inadvertently drifted from elsewhere.

One notable incident occurred in Chalet village under the Daulatpur police post in Una district, where residents discovered a PIA-marked aeroplane-shaped balloon on a villager's rooftop, leading to swift reporting and police intervention. Upon arrival, a team led by local officers seized the balloon, conducted extensive searches of the vicinity to exclude other anomalies, and noted a gathering of curious onlookers as word spread through the community.

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Earlier, on December 8, authorities recovered three similar balloons in Tatehra village within the Gagret sub-division, each featuring the Pakistani flag and the inscription "I Love Pakistan." Comparable findings have been documented in other areas of Una and surrounding districts in preceding months, contributing to a pattern that has raised questions about wind patterns, cross-border drift, or domestic sources.

Although no First Information Report has been lodged to date, the ongoing multi-agency probe underscores a cautious approach to border-adjacent security concerns, aiming to conclusively establish the balloons' provenance and rule out any unintended implications in the region.

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