E-Paper
Stray dogs to guard Andhra police stations
In the wake of increasing attacks by Maoist guerrillas, police in Andhra Pradesh have turned to man's best friend - dogs - to protect police stations.
In the wake of increasing attacks by Maoist guerrillas, police in Andhra Pradesh have turned to man's best friend - dogs - to protect police stations.
Police chief Swaranjit Sen has asked policemen to befriend stray dogs in their respective areas to guarding against possible Maoist attacks on police stations.
A circular has asked policemen to share their meals with dogs. It also said the dogs should be confined during the day and released in the night so that they acted as guards and alerted police sentries in the event of any intrusion in the premises.
By doing this, police could ensure proper protection without incurring additional expenses, the circular noted.
Seven people, including four policemen, were killed when Maoist rebels attacked Chilkaluripeta police station and adjoining police residential quarters in Guntur district March 7.
Following this attack, all police stations in the state were put on high alert.
Intelligence agencies have warned the rebels might resort to more attacks on police stations. Security at police stations in and around state capital Hyderabad has been beefed up.
Maoist violence in the state has claimed over 6,000 lives in 35 years.
