SPG to double the strength of dog squad for Modi's security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security will get more canine power as the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) has decided to double the strength of its dog squad by the end of this year and has asked the Indo-Tibetan Border Police to train two batches a year. The "Crack K9 Wing" of SPG needs more dogs for PM'S security in wake of the heightened threat perception.

These dogs being trained by ITBP are experts in sniffing explosives and detecting improvised explosive devices. The ITBP Chief, DG Krishna Chaudhary, has been told that there is an immediate need to train the third batch of SPG dogs in the highly-classified explosive detection module, in view of the heightened threat perception and activation of sleeper cells.

HOT DOGS

The SPG K9s, formed in 1984 by the then PM Rajiv Gandhi in the wake of the assassination of Indira Gandhi, entrusted to secure the life of PM and vital subjects, has once again requested the ITBP Chief, DG Krishna Chaudhary, to train the third batch of SPG dogs in the highly-classified explosive detection module, officials said.

A batch of SPG Labradors and German Shepherds have passed out from the ITBP's National Training Centre for Dogs ( NTCD) in June this year.

"Due to an urgent operational need to employ more trained dogs, SPG is seeking ITBP's help to bring their K9 wing at par with the ITBP 'Crack K9 dogs' who were the only ones selected by the US Marines to dove-tail with the Navy Seal Dogs during the visit of the US President in January 2015 and the French Premier in January 2016, in secret operations code named Op Obmo and Op French Toast, respectively," said a security official.

The next batch of dogs will begin training in July but security official did not want to divulge details of the exact numbers due to security concerns.

CANINE POWER

Earlier this year, a small batch was trained by ITBP following which another one was also sent to their dog training school in Bhanu near Chandigarh.

The dogs are enrolled in the grueling 24-week training programme when they are four months old and by the time they complete the training they can get the whiff of even a minuscule amount of explosive.

"Keeping in mind the changing dynamics of security the training methods modules are designed to keep pace. Not only sniffing but these ferocious dogs are trained for assault and reconnaissance patrols as well," said an official.

The force has been successful in introducing and training Belgian Malinois, a breed that was used in the operation to hunt down Osama Bin Laden, for anti-Maoist operations.

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