New Delhi: A seven-year-old Labrador Retriever named Mary played a crucial role in helping police identify a suspect in the assault of a six-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh‘s Sambhal district by following a scent trail from a towel recovered at the scene.
The incident occurred on June 19 when the child reportedly went missing while playing outside her home and was later found in a nearby area. With no CCTV footage or eyewitnesses available, investigators faced significant challenges in tracing the suspect.
Scent trail leads police to suspect
According to police officials, forensic teams collected several pieces of evidence from the scene, including a towel that later became a key element in the investigation.
As conventional leads failed to produce results, police deployed Mary, an experienced sniffer dog attached to the Sambhal police unit.
After being given the scent from the recovered towel, Mary reportedly moved through narrow lanes and eventually stopped outside a house located about 400 metres from the scene. Investigators said the dog’s actions helped direct the investigation towards the suspect.
Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi praised the canine’s abilities, stating that Mary possessed exceptional patience, precision and a remarkable ability to retain scent trails even in densely populated urban areas.
Experienced canine with impressive track record
Mary has been serving with the Sambhal police since December 2019 and is regarded as one of the department’s most accomplished sniffer dogs. According to officials, she was a gold medallist during her training batch and has assisted in solving numerous cases over the years.
Police officials recalled an earlier case in Bilaspur where a body that had remained untraced in a forest area was eventually recovered with Mary’s assistance.
In another case in Baniyather, the Labrador reportedly helped investigators solve a murder case involving a differently abled victim.
Authorities said Mary’s consistent contributions have made her an invaluable member of the police force and an important asset in criminal investigations.
Handler to receive reward
In recognition of the successful operation, police announced a cash reward of Rs 10,000 for Mary’s handler.
Officials said the case once again highlighted the importance of trained police dogs in investigations, particularly in situations where technological evidence and eyewitness accounts are unavailable.
The investigation into the case is continuing, and police are proceeding with further legal action based on the evidence collected during the probe.