The Indian Air Force claimed on Tuesday to shoot down ‘a Pakistani balloon’ during the Indian Republic Day in Rajasthan.The radar of the Indian Air Force had registered the movement of the ‘unidentified balloon-like object’ in Jaisalmer area, frightening the authorities who immediately considered to shoot the balloon down."Due to heightened security alert, the balloon was shot down," Indian defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Manish Ojha said.The authorities also inspected the debris of the balloon, which was later cleared of carrying any spying device."On the analysis of the debris, it was established there was no dangerous payload,"Ojha said.Earlier in May 2015, a pigeon allegedly bearing a stamped message with a wire-like object on its body made Indian authorities question its flight into the village of Pathankot in Punjab.According to reports, the bird landed on the mud brick house of Ramesh Chandra, a barber, in Manwal village, 4kms from Pakistan border.Suspicions were aroused by the Urdu markings, which were reported to the nearest police station by Chandra’s son.The article originally appeared on DNA India