Shillong, Mar 2: Meghalaya Home Minister Prestone Tynsong on Friday felicitated three retired police dogs in recognition of their dedicated service to the state, while formally inducting 24 newly trained K9 Unit members into the force.
The ceremony, organised by the Meghalaya Police, was held at the MLP Parade Ground in Mawiong and attended by Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang and senior police officials.
Addressing the gathering, Tynsong underscored the importance of strengthening the K9 Unit to enhance the operational capabilities of the police. He said specially trained dogs play a critical role in intelligence gathering, detecting narcotics and explosives, protecting the public and assisting in crime prevention.
“In recent years, K9 Units have significantly contributed to solving criminal cases and detecting dangerous materials,” the minister said, adding that the state government remains committed to upgrading security infrastructure and training facilities for law enforcement agencies.
DGP Nongrang stated that the programme was organised to honour retired K9s for their years of service while inducting new members who recently completed training at the 1st MLP Battalion in Mawiong. She said the newly trained dogs demonstrated their operational skills during the event, including obstacle navigation and suspect apprehension drills.
One of the highlights was a live demonstration by K9 Eva, who showcased coordinated manoeuvres with her handler, reflecting the rigorous training standards maintained by the unit.
The ceremony also witnessed an emotional tribute to the retired K9s — Remor, Reste (Labrador) and Cairo (Belgian Malinois) — who were honoured for their significant contributions to public safety and crime prevention.
According to officials, K9 Remor was instrumental in recovering 39 hidden firearms during operations in Assam Bazar and Happy Valley and detected heroin worth over ₹5 crore in Umsning. K9 Reste, trained in explosive detection, assisted in identifying explosives at multiple locations, including St. Thomas Church in 2021 and in Mawkriah and Tikrikilla in 2023.
Minister Tynsong presented felicitation medals to the retired K9s, acknowledging their outstanding service.
K9 Units, comprising specially trained police dogs and handlers, form a vital support component of law enforcement operations, assisting in investigations, detection tasks and public safety operations across the state.
