Indian canine squad in France to sniff out threats at Paris Olympics

The Indian dog teams will be deployed as required by French police and security agencies, as part of security cooperation between the two nations, according to an officer.

CRPF dogs Vast and Denby at Paris Olympics

CRPF dogs Vast and Denby along with their handlers. They are part of the 10 canine teams that have landed in France for providing security to various venues for the Paris Olympics beginning from July 26. (PTI Photo)

India is making its presence felt at the Paris Olympics 2024; not just with its athletes but also security personnel!

Ten specially-trained Indian CAPF and special commando force dogs are in France to provide counter-terrorist and anti-sabotage security for the biggest sporting extravaganza, set to begin next week, according to official sources.

These ten Indian K9 teams will perform sniffing and patrolling duties at various Olympic venues. A security officer confirmed to news agency PTI that they underwent a special 10-week training for this collaboration between Indian and French canine squads.

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The teams, along with their handlers, have been chosen from central armed police forces (CAPFs) such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG), and Assam Rifles.

The dogs, belonging to the Belgian Malinois breed, are known for their roles in infantry patrols and anti-sabotage sniffing tasks, including detecting bombs, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and troublemakers in various internal security operations in India.

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A second officer mentioned that the handlers have also undergone refresher physical training and a special course in basic French for the Olympics project. The squad includes five-year-old CRPF canine Vast and three-year-old Denby, selected after rigorous tests at the CRPF dog breeding and training school in Taralu near Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The Belgian Malinois breed is globally preferred for combat by security forces, having gained fame for assisting US special forces in locating Osama Bin Laden’s hideout in Pakistan in 2011. These dogs can detect suspicious human presence and IEDs with precision and communicate signals subtly without barking to avoid alerting targets.

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The Indian dog teams will be deployed as required by French police and security agencies, as part of security cooperation between the two nations, said an officer. The handlers will wear their regular combat uniforms with special patches of the Indian flag.

France plans to deploy around 30,000 police officers daily for the Olympics, with up to 45,000 for the opening ceremony on the Seine River. About 18,000 military members will also assist in ensuring security, including thousands housed in a special camp on the edge of Paris, according to international media reports.

India will be represented by 117 athletes and 140 support staff and officials at the Olympics.

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