Paws on patrol: 76 canines trained to track & tackle crime

Hyderabad: The passing out parade of the 25th batch of police canines and their handlers was held at the Integrated Intelligence Training Academy (IITA), Moinabad, on Tuesday. A total of 105 handlers and 76 canines passed out of the academy after eight months of training. The canines comprising Belgian Malinois, Labrador, Cocker Spaniel, German Shepherd and Beagle — 42 from Telangana, 30 from Bihar CID, and four from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) — will be deployed for various tasks.The ceremonial parade showcased the dogs' discipline, agility, and obedience, reflecting months of intensive conditioning and close coordination with their handlers. These canines remain among the most operationally effective assets in modern policing, playing a crucial role in tracking criminals, detecting explosives and narcotics, and supporting intelligence-led operations.
Calling them the police force's "most dependable silent soldiers," Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said trained canines are frontline partners in crime prevention and detection, not merely companions. He was speaking at the 25th passing-out parade of police dogs and their handlers at the Integrated Intelligence Training Academy (IITA) in Moinabad.Vijay Kumar said police canines remain among the most operationally effective assets in modern policing, playing a crucial role in tracking criminals, detecting explosives and narcotics, and supporting intelligence-led operations. He underlined that the bond between the handler and the canine is vital for operational success and expressed confidence that the newly inducted teams would significantly enhance field capabilities.Referring to the work of the state's Intelligence Security Wing (ISW), the ADGP noted that during visits by the Prime Minister, the Special Protection Group (SPG) often acknowledges that preparatory security work has already been comprehensively handled by the ISW.ISW & Officer on Special Duty VB Kamalasan Reddy said the training centre, established in 2004, has grown into one of the country's premier canine training institutions. So far, it has trained 919 police canines and 1,310 handlers from various states. He recalled that Telangana Police secured first place in the 67th and 68th All India Police Duty Meets, winning gold and silver medals respectively, reflecting the academy's high training standards.The academy features specialised infrastructure, including a 650-yard canine olfaction park and a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital, designed to maintain the health, fitness and operational readiness of the dogs.