Vijayapura

The Vijayapura District Police on Saturday held a ceremonial farewell for two veteran police dogs, Raksha and Stella, marking the end of their 12-year service marked by key contributions to crime detection and security operations.

District Superintendent of Police Lakshman Nimbargi presided over the event and formally announced the retirement of the canines. He said the duo played a crucial role in hundreds of investigations, collectively aiding the police in solving over 600 criminal cases and helping identify more than 30 accused persons.

Nimbargi highlighted Stella’s extensive involvement in criminal probes, noting that her tracking skills proved invaluable across a wide range of cases. Raksha, he said, specialised in detecting explosives and contraband and was also deployed in VVIP security duties. The ceremony, attended by police personnel, was described as an emotional moment as officers reflected on the dogs’ years of dedicated service.

At the same event, the district police inducted two new dogs into active duty—Yoddha and Veda. Yoddha has been trained for crime detection, while Veda will handle bomb and explosive detection. The SP expressed confidence that the new additions would further enhance the force’s operational capabilities.

Separately, a police release noted that more than 150 indigenous dogs have been deployed across various operational theatres, including along the western and eastern borders and in anti-Naxalite operations, where they have delivered encouraging results. Their performance, the statement said, has reinforced the decision to integrate Indian breeds into frontline security roles.

The release also recalled the historical legacy of indigenous hounds such as the Rampur Hound from Rampur, traditionally bred by the Nawabs for hunting, and the Mudhol Hound from Mudhol, long valued for guarding and tracking and later refined under royal patronage.

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According to the statement, the Border Security Force has played a leading role in training, breeding and promoting indigenous dogs at its National Training Centre for Dogs in Tekanpur, as well as across field formations. The initiative has since expanded to subsidiary K9 centres, enabling wider deployment of Indian breed dogs across the force, it added.