A unit of 24 sniffer dogs that are part of the security wing of US President Barack Obama will be housed in the fortified Five-Star Shangri la Hotel. Authorities have booked 24 rooms for these canines and their handlers. These highly trained pedigree dogs — which have military ranks and are duly saluted by junior officers — are being flown to the national Capital as part of the Advanced Security liaison Team (ASlT) of the US President. The dogs are addressed by their names and ranks and cautioning them without their ranks and names is proscribed.
The squad will be pressed into service to sanitise areas scheduled in Obama’s visit. The US Dog Squad will be assisted by the 30-member dog squad of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The US Dog Squad will supplement US secret service in carrying out anti-sabotage drill during the stay of President Obama in Delhi. Sources said that these dogs cannot be housed at Delhi Police lines as it is quite far from the lutyen’s Zone.
It has been learnt that the US ASlT has informed their Indian counterparts about their visit and the security set-up required for them. Sources said that the US secret service has conveyed to the Indian authorities about the ‘Dog Unit’ of the President’s security. There are Intelligence inputs that international terror groups are itching to target US President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The dog squad will be assisted by highly trained dogs of the Indian Army, Border Security Force, Special Protection Group, National Security Guards (NSG) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). It may be recalled that ITBP had issued a statement after its especially trained dog squad was sent to Delhi for providing anti-sabotage cover for the high profile visit. “The threat is from sophisticated remotely operated improvised explosive devices at sensitive locations during the Republic Day celebrations and in hotels where the US President and his entourage would stay.
Radicalised ‘lone-wolf’ operatives’ chats with their bosses from across the border or sleeper cells have been intercepted by our Intelligence agencies and corroborated by the US Intelligence,” a statement said. The ITBP dog squad has been kept at ITBP station in the Capital for sanitising the sprawling Rajpath, India Gate lawns and the entire route of President Obama.