KOLKATA:
Belgian Malinois
, the breed that had helped the US Seal team track Osama bin Laden, will now become the ‘attack’ dogs for Kolkata Police combat force and are likely to be introduced in the new kennel being set up near Nabanna. According to sources, a maximum of 12 such dogs will be acquired for now, taking the total number to 60. One of the dogs, trained outside the state, has already been “inducted for a short time”.
“The plan has been on for a long time, but it is finally taking shape. They will be trained by experts outside the state and will take a year before being inducted. The trainers here too need to get acquainted with them,” said an IPS officer.
The main reason, claimed sources, to introduce this breed is that they can withstand harsh weather conditions. “Just like our previous decision to start a swimming pool for dogs, this induction too has to do a lot about dogs getting tired too soon. The Malinois is a very sturdy dog and do not get tired too easily. They can travel long distances under challenging conditions. They are rugged and an intelligent breed of dog. They can be used in Indian conditions whereas labradors and German shepherds get exhausted within minutes,” said the officer.
CRPF has already inducted Belgian Malinois dogs. The Maharashtra police have also written to the home department and the DGP to procure Belgian Malinois for Naxal-hit areas and for Force One, their elite team that deals with terror activities.
The city police dog squad, which is attached to the detective department, comprises 35 dogs of different breeds — labrador, doberman, German shepherd, golden retriever, rottweiler and a beagle. Each dog specialises in one of the five policing categories: narcotics tracking, explosives tracking, crime tracking, search and rescue and guard and assault.
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