Pune: The dog squad, which was established a year ago at the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate, is about to receive much-needed reinforcement.

The Maharashtra state Home Department has granted approval for the recruitment of nine new positions to enhance the squad's capabilities in drug detection and crime investigation.

According to Deputy Secretary Rajendra Bhalwade, this expansion comes as part of the police department's efforts to strengthen its detection teams, especially for narcotics and crime-related tasks.

Pimpri-Chinchwad's police commissioner had been actively pursuing the addition of experienced personnel for the dog squad and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS).

In response, the Director General of Police instructed the State Crime Investigation Department (CID) to send two trained police dogs from the Pune City Police to Pimpri-Chinchwad Police.

As a result, two dogs, Simba and James, have now been transferred to the Pimpri-Chinchwad police force. Simba, 8 years old and trained in Rajasthan, is currently assisting in crime detection, while James, 5 years old and trained in Haryana, is serving in bomb detection.

The police department has also been approved to recruit two police constables for the drug detection unit, two constables and one sub-inspector for the crime detection unit, and an additional two constables. Furthermore, an external agency will recruit a sanitation worker to support the squad.

The role of dogs in the police force is invaluable. They are employed to detect a wide range of criminal activities, including murders, robberies, burglaries, and locating missing persons. Dogs like Simba and James are specially trained to sniff out narcotics like cocaine, marijuana, and opium.

Additionally, their skills are crucial in locating explosives in sensitive areas, vehicles of VIPs, and even underground.

Simba and James are expected to play a critical role in bolstering the police force's efforts in both crime and bomb detection, contributing to the overall safety and security of the Pimpri-Chinchwad area.