HORSING AROUND? Mounted police unit becomes dysfunctional once again

Coimbatore: The city police are planning to disband its mounted unit, which was revived in 2017, due to a scarcity of trainers and an acute shortage of funds.
The unit, which was launched in 1991 with 10 horses, had become defunct in 2006 after the animals died. It was relaunched last year with Regimental Hero, Power of Liberty, Dancing Duke, Scent of Power and Aviator from the Madras Race Club. The animals were used for patrolling at VOC Park and Race Course during the morning and evening hours.

Dancing Duke died due to a heart disease while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Nammakal eight months ago, an official said. “It’s been over six months since the horses were used for patrolling. They were last used for the Independence Day parade. Even though patrolling has been stopped, trainers continue to train the horses every day,” he said.

Initially, a sub-Inspector, 10 armed reserve police personnel and four trainers were attached to the unit. But there are only three trainers to take care of the four horses now. “A trainer was transferred and the post has not been filled so far,” the official said.

The sanctioned strength of the unit is 10 horses, another official said. “We had submitted a proposal to the state government to approve the sanctioned strength. We are yet to get a reply.” “The unit was used for crowd management without causing any damage to the public. We have been training the horses to use them during law and order situations. But we never faced such a situation. At present, patrolling vehicles are being used.”

Initially, each horse was allotted Rs 450 per day, said a senior police officer. “But due to some technical reasons, the fund was not sanctioned. We are planning to surrender the horses and close the unit,” he said.