Pigeon cages, 100 rats, vintage guns recovered from house
Varanasi: A large number of pigeon cages, heaps of garbage and bird droppings, 100 rats and two vintage guns were found during a police raid on a multi-storey house in Jergular locality on Wednesday evening, as authorities cracked down on bird flights ahead of the Indian Air Force’s three-day air show in Varanasi. The action was taken after the area within a 20-km radius of Namo Ghat was declared a no-bird zone for the air show, which began on Thursday. After 100 rats and heavy filth were found, cleaning and pesticide spraying were carried out.
Officials said the ban on flying pigeons was imposed to ensure safe aircraft movement and prevent any bird-hit incident during the show. Inspector Vimal Mishra said further action was being taken by the concerned departments over violations found in the building. A joint team of the municipal corporation, Adampur police, the animal husbandry department of Varanasi Municipal Corporation and Varanasi Development Authority reached the three-storey house of Athar Javed alias Raini in Chauhatta Lal Khan’s Jergular locality following information that pigeons were being flown from the terrace. Led by district veterinary officer Vijay Amrit Raj, the team used a grinder machine to cut and remove the iron-mesh enclosures installed for pigeons on the floors. The cages and birds were seized. On the veterinary officer’s complaint, a case was registered against Raini at Adampur police station.