Chandigarh, Nov 6 (IANS) Moving forward in capacity building and crime control, Haryana Police have made significant strides by expanding its dog squad under the guidance of Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur.

The squad's strength has been increased from 36 to 63 trained dogs, each equipped with advanced training to aid in solving crimes and catching criminals.

From January to October 2024, the Haryana Police dog squad contributed to the resolution of 24 cases, leading to the seizure of substantial quantities of narcotics, an official statement said. These include 24.45 kg marijuana, 17.18 grams heroin, 42.45 grams smack, 10.572 kg poppy husk, and 62 grams charas.

DGP Kapur explained that the Haryana Police utilise three types of dogs, based on their specific skills: First is the tracker dogs that assist investigating officers in cases like thefts and murders. They are mainly labrador breeds and are managed by the state crime branch.

The second is the explosive detection dogs used for VIP security and bomb detection at suspicious locations, these labradors are managed by the CID. And the third were the narcotics dogs, specialised in detecting drugs in various locations like buildings, vehicles, and open spaces, these dogs play a crucial role in narcotics control.

Currently, Haryana Police have a total of 63 dogs, with five deployed in the state Narcotics Control Bureau and 58 across all districts. Each dog is handled by a dedicated dog handler and assistant dog handler. The squad includes three main breeds: Belgian Shepherds, German Shepherds, and labradors, all of which receive high-quality care and maintenance.

The narcotics dogs are acquired from specialised firms when they are three to six months old, undergo medical examinations, and receive a rigorous six-month narcotics training course before deployment.

After about 10 to 11 years of service, these dogs retire, at which point handlers and assistant handlers are given the first option to adopt them. If declined, the dogs are placed with NGOs or organisations.

The DGP said the importance of the dog squad in crime control, adding their training programmes are specially designed to improve detection skills and assist in bringing offenders to justice.

The squad also performs demonstrations on Republic Day and Independence Day, showcasing the dogs’ skills in crime prevention and public safety.