Mumbai:
Sniffer dogs are a common sight in our cities, especially after 26/11. They are deployed outside railway stations, malls, hotels and at any major function. But are the sniffer dogs supplied by security agencies really effective? Or have they just become a status symbol?
In an exclusive investigation, NDTV finds out the truth.
A mixture of ammonium nitrate and diesel oil - a potent chemical used to make explosives - was carried at a five-star hotel in Mumbai. Trained sniffer dogs should have been able to detect the chemical, but they failed.
The drill was repeated at another five-star hotel and here too, the dogs failed the test.
The security agencies, however, insist nothing can get past these dogs.
"Sometimes the X-Ray machines fail, maybe due a power failure. But sniffer dogs are 99 percent effective," said Sunil Mohite, Proprietor, Safe & Secure Guards.
Mumbai's private security agencies employ at least 500 sniffer dogs. Yet, since 2007, the Mumbai Police have stopped hiring them. It found these dogs ineffective.
The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad has found most of them aren't trained in sniffing explosives because security agencies have no access to explosives. Under the Explosives Act, only the police and the Defence can access them.
"The government can certainly procure whatever is required for training purpose, and use for the training purpose, and destroy it the moment the purpose is over," said Y C Pawar, former IPS Officer.
So while sniffer dogs at malls and multiplexes, airports and offices might make you feel safe, in reality they may just be like the dog next door.