Assam Rifles has integrated Manipur’s indigenous dog breed, the Tangkhul Hui or Haofa, into its canine units as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs. This directive mandated all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to induct two Indian dog breeds. Lt Col Alok Palei, from the Assam Rifles Dog Training Centre in Jorhat, reports that six Tangkhul Hui dogs have been trained and are currently performing narcotics detection duties. Named for the Tangkhul Naga tribe, this breed is noted for being hardy, disease-resistant, and adaptable to diverse climates and terrains.
Additionally, Assam Rifles plans to induct the Kombai breed from Tamil Nadu as the second indigenous breed, with this expected to occur in April, adding to its current stock of 10 Kombai dogs. The Assam Rifles maintains an authorized canine strength of 344 dogs, with 253 currently in deployment. Their canine teams have received over 140 awards from the Central Government for achievements in tracking and detecting explosives and narcotics. Newly inducted dogs complete 12 weeks of basic training followed by 36 weeks of advanced training.
The organization also employs around 1,200 dog handlers, including PV Seelakshmi from Kannur, Kerala, who is recognized as the first woman dog handler in Assam Rifles. Additionally, her journey has inspired eight female soldiers, who are now in training to become dog handlers at the Jorhat center.