Karkala: ‘Alchi’, a female Belgian Malinois of the Karnataka State Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) dog squad, was accorded a warm and respectful farewell after completing eight years of distinguished service. The retirement ceremony, held at the ANF headquarters in Karkala on July 20, honoured the canine’s contribution to hundreds of security and anti-Naxal operations across the Western Ghats.
Known for her exceptional sense of smell, discipline and dedication, Alchi played a crucial role in explosive detection, forest search operations and VIP security assignments during her years with the force.
Emotional farewell at ANF headquarters
A simple but emotional retirement ceremony was organised at the ANF headquarters, where police personnel, officers, dog handlers and staff gathered to pay tribute to Alchi’s outstanding service.
Police Inspector Santosh, along with members of the ANF, acknowledged the canine’s contribution to the force and expressed gratitude for her years of dedicated service in challenging operational environments.
The farewell reflected the close bond shared between service dogs and their handlers, who work together in high-risk situations throughout their careers.
Trained for specialised operations
Born on August 11, 2018, Alchi joined the Anti-Naxal Force on November 10, 2018, when she was just three months old.
She underwent an intensive 13-month training programme at the CRPF Dog Breeding and Training Centre in Bengaluru, where she specialised in explosive detection and assault operations.
During her training, she gained expertise in detecting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), bomb searches, forest patrols and tactical operations before being posted to the Karkala ANF unit.
Served in Naxal-affected forest regions
Throughout her career, Alchi operated extensively in the dense forests of the Western Ghats, supporting anti-Naxal operations and security missions.
She participated in combing operations, search missions and patrol duties across sensitive areas, including Agumbe, Hebri, Jayapura, Sringeri, Kollur, Subrahmanya and Madikeri.
Her keen sense of smell enabled security personnel to detect explosives and inspect potentially hazardous locations during field operations.
Alchi also assisted in tracking suspected Naxal movements and contributed significantly to maintaining security in remote forest areas.
Played key role in VIP security
Apart from anti-Naxal operations, Alchi was regularly deployed for bomb detection and security checks during visits by the Chief Minister and other VIPs to Karkala and nearby forest regions.
Her handlers, Pradeep B. D. and Dhananjay, cared for and trained her throughout her service, ensuring she remained operationally prepared for demanding assignments.
Following her retirement, the ANF dog squad continues its work with three other trained dogs — Amari, Agera and Anji.
ANF honours loyal service
ANF Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar praised Alchi’s contribution, describing police dogs as brave members of the force who perform their duties with exceptional loyalty and courage.
He said Alchi’s dedication, discipline and commitment to duty would remain an inspiration to the department and that her contribution to anti-Naxal operations and public safety would always be remembered with gratitude.
Alchi’s retirement marks the conclusion of an accomplished career during which she served alongside security personnel in some of Karnataka’s most challenging operational environments, leaving behind a legacy of courage, professionalism and unwavering service.