Indian dog breeds such as the Rampur Hound, Himachali Shepherd, Gaddi, Bakharwal, and Tibetan Mastiff are set to be utilized for police duties like detecting suspects, narcotics, and explosives, as well as patrolling high-risk areas, according to officials.
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like BSF, CRPF, and CISF are preparing to enlist Indian dog breeds for police work, with trials already underway for breeds like the Rampur Hound. Trials for Himalayan mountain canines have also been ordered.
Currently, most police dogs are foreign breeds like German Shepherds, Labradors, Belgian Malinois, and Cocker Spaniels.
Trials for Indian dog breeds like the Mudhol Hound have been completed by SSB and ITBP, with trials ongoing for others like the Rampur Hound at CRPF and BSF canine training centers, according to a Home Ministry official.
Additionally, trials for Himalayan mountain dogs like Himachali Shepherd, Gaddi, Bakharwal, and Tibetan Mastiff are being conducted simultaneously by BSF, ITBP, and SSB.
The trials are currently in progress.
The Prime Minister has previously emphasized the promotion of local dog breeds through scientific methods.
All dogs employed by CAPFs are part of the Police Service K9 (PSKs) units. CAPFs that train and use dogs for police work include BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG, and Assam Rifles.
Police dogs are trained for tasks such as detecting explosives like IEDs and mines, narcotics, counterfeit currency, patrolling, and more.
Dogs are sometimes utilized in search operations to locate terrorists, the official stated.
The Home Ministry has taken steps to enhance collaboration and mutual learning among CAPFs and other law enforcement agencies regarding PSKs.
With approximately 4,000 dogs, CAPFs are the largest users of police dogs in the country, hiring around 300 puppies annually.
Among CAPFs, CRPF has the highest number of dogs (around 1,500), followed by CISF (around 700). NSG, a counter-terror organization, has about 100 dogs, another official noted.
The K9 squad was established by the Home Ministry in 2019 as part of the police modernization program to improve the breeding, training, and selection of dogs.
Currently, all combat dogs within CAPFs undergo an annual evaluation to assess their effectiveness and suitability for tasks like detecting suspects, narcotics, explosives, and patrolling high-risk areas, the official mentioned.
The Home Ministry, overseeing CAPFs and other forces, has developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the K9 squads and mandated its inclusion in their training curriculum.
As the scope of internal security expands and the distinction between internal and external security threats narrows, police and CAPF dogs serve as an effective force multiplier for ensuring safety and security for troops and citizens during operations, the official highlighted.
