The Nagpur City police have solved the Lashkaribagh murder case with the help of Raven, a highly trained German Shepherd sniffer dog. The canine played a pivotal role in tracking down the key suspect within minutes of being deployed at the crime scene.
How Raven Helped Crack the Case
Indubai Chavan, 68, was found murdered at her residence in Lashkaribagh last week. Her husband, Kishor, discovered her body lying in a pool of blood on Friday morning, two days after the crime. Investigators believe she was killed after Wednesday midnight.
Raven, who underwent nine months of rigorous training under the Indo-Tibetan Border Police in Haryana, was called in by the Panchpaoli police. Upon arrival, the dog was given a portion of a knife cover recovered near the body to sniff. Within minutes, Raven picked up the scent and headed straight to the house of the key accused, Raj Bagde. He started circling in front of the house, providing clear clues to his handler, head constable Kamlesh Hinge.
Tracking the Killer's Path
Following the scent, Raven led officers upstairs to the terrace, where bloodstains were found, indicating that the killer had gone there to wash himself after the crime. The dog then traced the path down the staircase directly to a house located behind the victim's first-floor apartment. This precise tracking helped the police narrow down their suspect list.
During interrogation, Raj Bagde, a close relative of the deceased, confessed to the crime. He allegedly stole Indu's ATM card earlier, and when she confronted him, he stabbed her to death in a fit of rage on Wednesday night. Bagde was later arrested from Kalmeshwar. The entire case was solved within two hours.
Handler Kamlesh Hinge praised Raven's performance, stating, "The dog stayed focused and delivered results braving the blazing sun." Hinge works under sub inspector Dashrath Thakur. Police officials commended Raven's sharp senses and training, noting that such sniffer dogs undergo rigorous training to perform in challenging conditions. Raven once again proved why he is considered one of the best in the force.
