Largest-ever ITBP dog squad for I-Day security

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 25

As security agencies have issued a “very high threat perception” for the Independence Day celebrations, 20 teams of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force’s (ITBP) specially trained explosive detection dogs have been deployed to secure the Red Fort and its adjoining areas.

This is the largest-ever requisition of ITBP dog units for security duties. These dogs, and also those from other central and state law enforcement agencies, are trained at the ITBP’s National Dog Training Centre, co-located with its Basic Training Centre at Bhanu near here.

Sources said the threat perception was based upon increased electronic chatter intercepts of terror groups like Indian Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Pasban-e-Ahle Hadis, some intelligence inputs on the Islamic State and other reports.

Besides the ramparts of the Red Ford and other restricted areas concerning VVIP movement, the ITBP’s explosive detection dogs are also being employed for anti-sabotage sanitisation of the audience area and public places in the vicinity.

The ITBP has deployed Malinois (Belgian Shepherd), Labrador and German Shepherd dogs for this operation. Recently, Sofia, an ITBP Malinois, detected an IED on the Rajpath lawns that was planted by the Delhi Police as a mock exercise, within 60 seconds of deployment. These dogs undergo a highly classified training module that certifies them for 100 per cent accuracy with minimum target odour concentration, an officer said.