The neglected unit of Delhi Police’s Mounted Police is soon going to be revived with the induction of 51 new stallions. As of now the unit has only 44 horses, which is half of its sanctioned strength. The police are planning to increase strength to streamline the historical unit of Delhi Police, which once the former Police Commissioner YS Dadwal had decided to do away with as it hardly served any purpose.
Terming it an “unnecessary burden”, the then Police Commissioner, YS Dadwal, had once considered the idea of dissolving the unit and also sent a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) during his tenure. However, the matter was not taken up by his successor.
However, the unit justified its existence when four well trained horses were pressed into service to control the situation during the Trilokpuri riots that took place on October last year.
Sources said that the police have planned to increase the strength of horses in the Mounted Police, which is used to control the law and order as well as participate in various national level games. The
horses are also used in ceremonial functions like Independence Day (15 August) and Delhi Police Raising Day (16 February).
The unit has been sidelined for the past several years with no new induction of horses. According to an official, who did not wish to be named, after the year 2000, no new horse or mare was inducted in the unit.
“The number of the horses has been decreasing every year. In December last year, a mare (female horse) retired while early this year two male horses were also retired,” said the officer. The unit which had 80 horses in the Mounted Police’s stable in Civil lines area in Central Delhi in the 80s, has been reduced to 44 today, the officer added. However, the sanctioned strength of the horses for the unit stands at 95. Earlier, the cost of each horse was around Rs50,000 but now it has gone up to Rs1 lakh-Rs1.5 lakh, he said.
Sources said the unit officials have been scouting for fit and healthy colts for the stable. They have also approached several trusts to buy two to three year old horses for imparting training.
According to a handler, who did not wish to be named, the training period of the horses is around six months and their diet is fixed. “The timings of their diet are fixed. A mixture of barley, Bengal gram and choker (an animal feed which is their favourite food) is given to them. They are also given grass in the evening as supplement,” said the handler.
There is one handler, on the rank of constable or head constable, for each horse. The present strength of mounted police comprises 75 constables, 22 head constables and two sub-inspectors.
Of the total horses, 41 are lodged in the stable yard at the Provisioning and logistic unit of Delhi Police located in Civil lines area in North Delhi, while three are kept in Kalkaji police station in South Delhi.