Tangkhul Hui Dog Inducted into Assam Rifles Under Atmanirbhar Bharat
Manipur’s indigenous Tangkhul Hui, also known as Haofa, has been inducted into the canine squads of the Assam Rifles as part of the Centre’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative aimed at promoting indigenous breeds and strengthening self-reliance.
The induction follows a directive issued last year by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), mandating all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to include at least two Indian dog breeds in their canine units. The initiative was conceptualised under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to encourage the use of native breeds better suited to Indian conditions.
According to officials, the Assam Rifles has so far trained and inducted six Tangkhul Hui dogs into its force. Lt Col Alok Palei, Officer Commanding of the Assam Rifles Dog Training Centre in Jorhat, Assam, confirmed the development.
“Till date, we have trained six dogs from the Manipur breed and inducted them into our force,” he said.
He added that the MHA directive seeks to address challenges associated with foreign breeds, which may be prone to genetic disorders and often struggle to adapt to India’s diverse climatic and geographical conditions. Indigenous breeds like the Tangkhul Hui are known for resilience, disease resistance, and adaptability.
Named after the Tangkhul Naga tribe of Manipur, the Tangkhul Hui is traditionally a domesticated hunting breed. All six inducted dogs are currently deployed in narcotics detection roles.
Kombai Breed Also Set for Induction
In addition to the Tangkhul Hui, the Assam Rifles is preparing to induct the Kombai, a native breed from Tamil Nadu, as its second Indian breed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The induction is scheduled for April this year.
“At present, Assam Rifles has a parent stock of 10 Kombai dogs — two males and eight females — which will be inducted in April,” Palei stated, noting that other CAPFs may choose different indigenous breeds as part of the mandate.
Strength of Assam Rifles Canine Units
The Assam Rifles has an authorised canine strength of 344 dogs, with 253 currently deployed. Over the years, its canine units have earned more than 140 medals from the central government for excellence in tracking, explosives detection, and narcotics operations.
Once inducted, the dogs undergo 12 weeks of basic training followed by a 36-week advanced course. The force currently has around 1,200 trained handlers, with 43 recruits — including eight women — undergoing training at the Jorhat centre. Notably, the Assam Rifles now includes women dog handlers, including a 25-year-old recruit from Kerala who became the first woman in the force to take up the role.
The induction of the Tangkhul Hui marks a significant recognition of Manipur’s indigenous heritage while reinforcing national efforts toward self-reliance in security infrastructure.
