Odisha police mourns the death of a star tracker

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha police bid a tearful adieu to Tara, one of the best tracker dogs of the force, following her death due to illness on Wednesday. Tara (13), who was posted in Nabarangpur district, had joined the police force (K-9 squad) in May 2009.
In recognition of her contribution to the force, the police personnel, including Nabarangpur superintendent of police (SP) Nitin Kusalkar gave her guard of honour at her burial ceremony.“Tara, a Labrador, was unwell for the past few days. Since she was part of our force, we paid her due respect at her burial. We laid wreaths on her body and gave her salute before burying her with dignity inside Nabarangpur reserve police ground,” Nitin said.
"I was very personally connected to her. She gave a very long and illustrious service to police," Nitin added.
With her death, the lone tracker dog’s post fell vacant in Nabarangpur police. “We will request the state police headquarters for Tara’s replacement. Tara will be missed by Nabarangpur police,” Nitin said.
Police sources said Tara served in different districts since her joining in Odisha police on May 4, 2009. She was transferred to Nabarangpur police from Koraput in 2018. In her career spanning over 11 years, Tara had helped the police in detecting at least 50 murder cases and several dacoity as well as burglary cases in different districts.
Recollecting her contributions, a police officer said Tara was instrumental in blowing the lid off a murder case at Damanjodi in Koraput district in 2016. “A minor girl was killed for suspected witchcraft. Police had no clues to make headway. Tara traced the accused persons, who later confessed to the crime,” a police officer in Koraput district said.
In 2013, Tara helped Biswanathpur police in Kalahandi district to arrest an accused in a murder case. “A man had killed his wife and absconded. Tara tracked him hiding in an isolated building,” another officer said. Tara was trained in the K-9 headquarters at the state Crime Branch office in Cuttack. She had received commendation in the police canine duty meet at Cuttack in 2017.