Police dog squad ‘Tasha’ in grief after handler’s death:Jawans say followed her blindly during anti-Naxal operations; now she remains withdrawn and silent after losing master

The contribution of police dog squads in making Balaghat district Naxal-free has been as crucial as that of the Hawk Force jawans. Among them, a female Doberman named Tasha and her handler Vinod Sharma emerged as an inseparable team during anti-Naxal operations deep inside dense forests. Today, Tasha is battling grief after losing the person she trusted the most. During operations in pitch-dark forests, Hawk Force jawans moved ahead with confidence whenever Tasha led the way. As long as she was in front, hidden landmines and explosives posed little threat. Her presence gave the entire force a sense of safety. Now, however, Tasha sits quietly, staring at doors for hours, as if waiting for her handler Vinod Sharma to return. The accident that changed everything On December 10, a vehicle carrying the Morena police bomb squad and dog squad met with an accident while returning from duty in Balaghat. Four policemen, including Tasha’s handler Vinod Sharma, lost their lives. Tasha was safely locked inside her cage at the rear of the vehicle and escaped without a scratch. Physically unharmed, she nonetheless lost everything that mattered to her. First birthday without her master Tasha turns seven on December 18. For the first time since she joined the force, her birthday will pass without her master by her side. How this accident changed Tasha’s life. How is she adapting to the new handler? Read the report… Together from 40 days old Tasha was inducted into the 23rd Battalion SAF on December 18, 2018, when she was just 40 days old. From that very day, Vinod Sharma was assigned as her handler. According to canine psychology, after a mother, a puppy forms the deepest bond with the human it spends the most time with. Tasha grew up seeing Vinod every day—during training, meals, playtime, and sleep. His death, therefore, was not just the loss of a handler, but the loss of a parent figure. Lost in grief Unlike other alert and focused police dogs, Tasha now appears withdrawn. She often turns her head and eyes repeatedly, as if searching for Vinod in the crowd or trying to hear his voice. Veterinary doctor Umesh Chaurasia explains that dogs often suffer from depression and separation anxiety after losing their handler. The first visible symptom is loss of appetite. Tasha, too, ate very little after the accident and kept sniffing the bowl from which Vinod used to feed her. More than duty—A bond of love Colleagues say Vinod treated Tasha like his own child. He often remarked that he spent more time with her than with his own children. A former colleague from Bhind recalls, “While other handlers walked their dogs once or twice a day, Vinod ji took Tasha out 8–10 times daily. He bought calcium supplements and toys with his own money. Even the sweater Tasha wore during the return journey from Balaghat was newly ordered online by him.” A witness to trauma TI Kesar Singh, in charge of the Dog Squad of the 23rd Battalion, says the challenge is immense. Tasha lived with the same handler since she was 40 days old. Losing him has deeply affected her psychology. What makes it harder is that she is a direct witness to the accident. Helping her overcome those traumatic memories is our biggest task. For now, Tasha has been kept away from operational duties. A new handler has been assigned solely to care for her—playing with her, maintaining hygiene, and helping her slowly move beyond the painful memories. How police dogs are trained The journey from an ordinary puppy to a specialised police dog involves nine months of rigorous training, divided into four stages: 1. Familiarisation (1 month): Building a strong bond between the dog and handler to understand each other’s body language. 2. Obedience (3 months): Training in basic commands like sit, down, and come. 3. Nose work (4 months): Specialised scent training, after which dogs are assigned one of three trades: 4. Final test: After a refresher course, a committee headed by an IPS officer conducts the final evaluation. Only successful dogs are deployed in districts. Battalion to celebrate Tasha’s birthday TI Kesar Singh says birthdays of police dogs are usually celebrated by their handlers. “This time, Tasha’s handler is no longer with us. So the entire battalion has decided to celebrate her birthday together. We won’t let her feel alone—we are all her family now.” Unsung heroes in uniform The Madhya Pradesh Police Dog Squad currently has 208 dogs, of which 120 are actively serving across districts. These dogs are not just animals—they are silent heroes who risk their lives to save countless others.