India, May 20 -- In a city rattled by hoax bomb threats, high-stakes security drills and drug busts, Delhi's most loyal frontline defenders are falling short - not in spirit, but in numbers. The Delhi Police dog squad, vital to detecting bombs, tracing suspects, and locating the missing, is operating at just 60% of its sanctioned strength.

With only 64 dogs on duty instead of the required 105, the Capital's canine force is stretched dangerously thin.

The pressure has only intensified since July last year, when the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) came into effect, calling for forensic-led policing across India. In Delhi, where more than 500 hoax bomb threats were recorded in 2024 alone-targeting schools, railway stations, and m...