To boost their horse power,cops to camp in Rajkot,Amreli

The police department has formed a three-member selection committee comprising of Gandhinagar IGP Shamsher Singh,DIG Siddharajsingh Bhati and Limji Vasava,police inspector at Horse Camp of Gujarat police in Ahmedabad.

“Our target is to purchase 20 horses of Kathiawadi breed from these camps. We have already selected two horses of this breed during a similar camp at Salangpur in Bhavnagar district early this year,” Vasava told The Indian Express Tuesday. Vasava added the department had selected 29 horses of Marvadi and Kathiawadi breeds during two selection camps at Palanpur while around 40 thoroughbreds were purchased from Delhi and Punjab.

According to Vasava,the department was buying more thoroughbreds to promote sporting activity among personnel in the force.

Kathiavadi horses,known for their endurance,were popular among rulers of former princely states.

Owing to a hefty increase in procurement price,horse-breeders can expect to get better prices for their horses.

“We have been purchasing horses for Rs 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh in the last few years. But the breeders demand as high as Rs 5 lakh for high breed horses. To source better horses,we have requested officers to increase the price up to Rs 2 lakh this time round,” Vasava said.

At present,Gujarat Police have more than 600 horses,mostly of Marvadi breed,with most district police and city police in the state having mounted squads. Rajkot rural police have a mounted unit of over 20 horses alongwith a horse training and riding club.

Rajkot SP Premvir Singh has appealed to horse breeders of the region to take part in the selection camps.