As Kolkata votes on Wednesday, the Kolkata Police Dog Squad has deployed its newest members — Ina, Tina, Snoopy, and Moon — to secure the city's high-stakes political landscape. The four Labradors, recently designated as explosive experts, transitioned directly from rigorous training to frontline VIP security and rally ground sanitization.
Timely Induction of Four-Legged Recruits
According to Lalbazar sources, the induction of these four-legged recruits is timely. While the squad currently boasts 40 dogs, the specialized nature of election duty requires a robust rotation of its 30 explosive experts to manage the surge in political rallies and roadshows across the city. On Wednesday, at least two of them are likely to be deployed independently at booths where VIPs might cast their votes.
Training and Transition
The four Labradors — three yellow and one black — recently returned from a seven-month intensive stint at the BSF training centre in Gwalior. However, officials noted that practical training in Kolkata's urban landscape is vastly different from a controlled training centre. "There is a significant difference between duty at a training facility and the high-pressure environment of VIP security in a bustling city," a senior cop said. To bridge this gap, all four canines, especially the more experienced Ina and Tina, are undergoing hands-on training by shadowing senior detective dogs during active sweeps of rally stages and VVIP corridors.
Heat Wave Challenges
The practical training has coincided with a brutal heat wave in the city. The recruits are frequently tasked with street duty lasting four to five hours a day, inspecting both sides of roads before major roadshows. To ensure the squad's health, the Police Training School has implemented a strict summer regimen. The dogs' daily menu now includes yogurt and glucose to prevent dehydration, with chicken served for lunch. To manage body temperatures, the animals are bathed twice a day in the PTS pond and undergo swimming exercises alongside morning and evening drills.
Welfare Priority
Lalbazar officials emphasized that the welfare of the new members remains a priority. "If any of the new recruits show signs of distress due to the heat, they are immediately pulled from duty and given rest," an official added. The deployment of these explosive experts underscores the city's commitment to security during the electoral process.
