NEW DELHI: The National Security Guard (NSG) will have a special dog squad for use in anti-hijacking operations in six months time. The special force is training three cocker spaniels for sniffing and attack in aircraft as normal dogs cannot do the job due to their large size.
Called aircraft search dogs, the squad will be ready for operation by next year, sources said. It will, however, remain a part of the K9 squad (referring to the canine squad) of the force.
An NSG official said, "We have been training these dogs for the past two-and-a-half years and hope they will be ready for operation in the next six months. The training modules have been changed midway for operational requirements and that is what delayed things a bit."
Sources said cocker spaniels were chosen for their small size but good agility and sniffing ability. "Labradors, which are generally used as sniffer dogs, cannot negotiate the narrow spaces in an aircraft and thus cannot be used in an anti-hijack operation. Cocker spaniels, however, have been trained to go under the seats or crawl in narrow spaces to sniff out suspected explosives," an officer said.
Sources said more such dogs would be added to the squad in time, depending on requirement and the success of the first inductions.
