CRPF will soon take the service of BSM dogs.

New Delhi: Operational units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in insurgency-affected areas and counter-insurgency operations will soon be able to use dogs for remote surveillance and sending equipment to camps. Something that so far only United States (US) special forces and Canadian special forces have been able to do. For this, India will soon purchase the K9 Vision System and Canine Remote Deployment System.

According to a document accessed by ANI, operational units of CRPF deployed in the IED affected area of ​​’Left Wing Extremism (LWE)’ and ‘Jammu and Kashmir’ are working hard for the provision of K9 teams. CRPF is in the process of procuring working line breeding stock of K9s and BSM (Belgian Shepherd Malinois) puppies. CRPF has issued qualitative requirements for procurement and instructions for testing.

CRDS is a K9 mounted device that is sent to remote areas as UNDERDOG. It is linked to the release mechanism. The system is very effective in delivering a wide range of devices such as breaching charges, bugging devices, portable jammers, life saving drugs and technical gadgets to far and wide within the ‘hot zone’. This system proved to be extremely helpful in certain circumstances, they are often used when human intervention is nearly impossible or excessive danger is recommended. The CRDS is currently used by Special Forces units of the US and Canadian Special Forces in a variety of tasks.

read the document

The maximum weight of the payload should be up to 800 grams. For protection against fall or damage, it has to be given a strong cover.

The paramilitary force is also evaluating the efficacy of another gadget, called the K9 Vision System, which is a canine camera system. It is used by special forces around the world.
The system includes front and rear cameras, night vision, collar, pouch and radio integration to ensure that the handler is connected to the K9. A high quality video and radio transmission means maximizing operational efficiencies in less time.
As per the conditions laid down by the CRPF, the system should be equipped with a ‘Wrist Screen’ facility and which can be controlled remotely from a distance of at least 450 metres.
Their capabilities will be placed before the committee before the purchase of both the systems.
According to a senior CRPF official, “The sniffing power of dogs is the biggest advantage for CRPF personnel during anti-Naxal operations and counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. There are 14 dogs in each battalion in Naxal areas and every time a team goes on patrol, the dogs overtake the team. Alert your team by detecting any ambush, explosives or landmines. Deployment of CRDS and K9 Vision System will give more power to the patrolling units in these affected areas.”

However, CRPF has already clarified that they will procure and deploy only Belgian Shepherd (BSM) breeds for their sound sensitivity and vision sensitivity in LWE and J&K regions.

A CRPF officer said, “BSM is the best police dog in the world. This is a tried and tested breed. Different organizations use different breeds as per their requirement. Some forces use Labradors and Cocker Spaniels because they are friendly dogs used for sniffing in subway, airports and other public places.”