Decorated Canine ‘Alti’ Retires After Eight Years of Exemplary Service in Anti-Naxal Force

Share

Share

Share

Share

Email

Share

Karkala : ‘Alti’, a female Belgian Malinois canine who served as a pillar of strength for the State Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) through her extraordinary vitality, loyalty, and duty consciousness, honorably retired on July 20 after completing eight years of service. In a simple yet emotional farewell ceremony held at the ANF headquarters in Karkala, Police Inspector Santosh, along with officers, staff, and handlers, fondly recalled and honored Alti’s remarkable contribution to security operations across the region.

Born on August 11, 2018, Alti was inducted into the ANF at just three months old on November 10, 2018. She underwent 13 months of rigorous training at the CRPF Dog Breeding and Training Centre in Bengaluru, gaining expertise in explosives detection, assault operations, IED identification, bomb searching, patrolling, and specialized forest combat. Following the successful completion of her training, she was deployed to the Karkala ANF unit. Throughout her career, Alti spent the majority of her service in the dense Western Ghats, taking a lead role in combing and search operations across Naxal-sensitive zones including Agumbe, Hebri, Jayapura, Sringeri, Kollur, Subramanya, and Madikeri. She was also routinely deployed for VIP security and bomb sweeps during visits by high-profile dignitaries, including the Chief Minister.

Commending her service, ANF Superintendent Hariram Shankar noted that dogs are not merely a part of the police force but brave fellow soldiers. He stated that Alti’s loyalty, courage, and dedication remain an inspiration to all, and the ANF will always remember her contributions with deep gratitude. Throughout her tenure, handlers Pradeep B.D. and Dhananjay managed Alti with exceptional care and professionalism. Following Alti’s retirement, three other operational canines—Amari, Agera, and Anji—continue to serve in the ANF Karkala squad.