Title - RPF dog squad gets a boost, 11 pups to join duty in year

Pluto is ‘decisive’, while Jelly is ‘calculative but cautious’, Rencho, China and Sem are playful. After a year’s training, they would be invaluable to their employers, but for now, tiny and chubby, they are busy playing with each other at the Railway Protection Force (RPF) dog squad facility, Matunga. The new bunch of 11 sniffer and tracker dogs will join the present force of 26 dogs with the Mumbai division of the Central Railway (CR) as part of the integrated security plan for the benefit of commuters. In October, these dogs will be sent to training centres in Coimbatore and Delhi.

From next month, the CR will start replacing or installing new security devices and hi-tech security equipment at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), as a tender of Rs 27 crore was awarded recently in this regard. Six major stations have been selected under the plan. The integrated security system will have five basic elements, including Internet protocol-based video surveillance system, access control system, personal and baggage screening systems, bomb detection and disposal system and system integration.

“From next month, we will start implementing the aspects under Integrated security plan. Door-frame metal detectors, luggage and parcel scanners will be installed at CST,” said Anil Sharma, Chief Security Commissioner, CR.

On April 19, the CR purchased 14 pups from breeding units in Sangli, Kolhapur and Pune. Of these, nine are sniffers (Labrador) and five are trackers (Doberman).

“On the same day, two sniffers were sent to Bhusawal and Solapur and one tracker was sent to Pune. At present, we have seven sniffers and four trackers in the new team for Mumbai division,” said Alok Bohra, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, CR.

At present, there are 26 dogs— 16 in Matunga and 10 in Kalyan. Each sniffer is purchased at a cost of Rs 12,000 and a tracker for Rs 15,000. Each dog has a handler and an assistant handler.

“The dogs are given practice sessions. Sniffer dogs are given practice to smell explosives. Five bags are put before them with an explosive kept in one bag and the sniffer dogs were taught to detect the explosive. Similarly, trackers are being trained by giving them two handkerchiefs. One handkerchief is put near them and after making them smell it, the other handkerchief is hidden. After some practice, the tracker retrieves the handkerchief from its hiding place,” added Bohra.

In July, eight kennels will be commissioned at CST, where trained sniffer and tracker dogs will be on duty day and night. However, the newly acquired pups will join duty after a year of training.