RPF SECR to form 3 new dog squads; proposal approved for kennels
   Date :15-Sep-2019
 
By Dheeraj Fartode :
 
South East Central Railway (SECR) has approved a proposal for construction of three kennels at Nagbhid, Dongargadh and Bilaspur station for dedicated detective dog squads. Railway Protection Force (RPF) of SECR will get a helping hand with the dog squad for checking of trains and passenger luggage. Divisional Security Commandant (DSC) Ashutosh Pandey informed ‘The Hitavada’ that tendering process would be start this month. Similarly, three dogs will be purchased from Hyderabad this month. “The dogs will be inducted after eight months of training,” he said and added that funds for maintaining the canines have already been sanctioned.
 
The RPF is entrusted with the responsibility of escorting passenger trains and providing security on platforms, passenger and circulating areas besides protecting railway property. The SECR RPF have two dog squads stationed at Motibagh and Gondia railway stations. These squads have pair of sniffer and tracker dogs each. The construction of kennels is a part of the integrated security system of railways. It will house sniffer dogs only. The sniffer dogs would help RPF by detecting the presence of drugs and narcotics including Marijuana, cocaine and heroin.
 
An indication from a sniffer dog can be enough for RPF to search for drugs. RPF personnel would be deputed as handlers to maintain the canines. The idea of forming the squads is cater to emergency requirements swiftly at the stations and for those situated few hours from the important railway stations, said DSC Pandey.