The Mangaluru City police said goodbye to their ten-year-old detective superintendent Sudha on Saturday.
Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar and other officers gave him an honor guard before burying the dog at the armed city police station.
Sudha, a Doberman Pinscher, has been with the city police since he was born on March 15, 2011.
Handler Sandeep K. of the District Armed Reserve had trained and raised him for a long time. But for the past six months, dog handler Kushalappa has been taking care of Sudha and two other dogs that are part of the city police’s dog squadron.
Sudha has helped police track down the defendants in many criminal cases, including a recent murder in Ullal. Six months ago, she had an operation to remove a cancerous growth in her body. For the past seven days, Sudha’s health began to deteriorate and he died at 10.15am on Saturday.
Sudha received an emotional farewell from her carers and other police officers. “I was very attached to Sudha. It was like a father-child relationship. Sudha followed my instructions rigorously, ”said Mr Sandeep. It is this stubbornness that led Mr. Sandeep to name his motorcycle after the dog.
Mr. Kumar and other police officers put flowers on his body. After there was an honor guard, it was buried on a corner of the CAR parade grounds. A Tulasi tree was planted over the grave site.
This is the first detective dog that the city police lost. There are two more dogs on the roster and two more will be added after they complete their training, said Mr Kumar.
Deputy Police Commissioner (Law and Order) Hariram Shankar, DCP (City Armed Reserve) Channaveerappa Hadapad and Deputy Police Commissioner (CAR) Murigeppa Appasahed Upase were present.
