Indian news agency ANI reported on Wednesday that the balloon with the name, logo and livery colours of the PIA was found in Sotra Chak village of Hiranagar sector in Indian-Occupied Kashmir on Tuesday evening.
Locals in the village reportedly found it who then told the police. After taking the balloon into custody, the Indian police are investigating the matter.
It is however unknown as to where the balloon came from. This is not the first time the Indian authorities have acted with unnecessary paranoia. In 2015, a pigeon that crossed the Indo-Pak border into the Pathankot area of India was 'arrested' by the Indian police.