Sniffer Dog Roma Puts Ganja Users, Carriers on Edge

The Adilabad Police are deploying Roma during checks in residential colonies and public places based on specific information about ganja consumption and trafficking. Similar efforts are also being undertaken by the police in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district.

Police said they have been focusing on curbing ganja cultivation and consumption through awareness programmes in villages and educational institutions. It has been found that a few farmers are cultivating ganja as an intercrop with redgram in interior areas, particularly in Adilabad and Asifabad districts.

Over the last six months, Roma has helped police book four cases involving ganja addicts and consumers during checks conducted in Adilabad town, KRK Colony, areas under the Mavala police station limits, and the Adilabad railway station area. The sniffer dog was inducted into the police department about one-and-a-half years ago.

Police regularly conduct checks with Roma at bus stands, as ganja and drug peddlers often travel by bus or transport narcotics in packed bags disguised as luggage within the state or to bordering Maharashtra.

Pasupula Ramesh, the handler of Roma, said the dog’s presence itself creates fear among drug users and peddlers, many of whom attempt to flee on seeing the sniffer dog. “Roma is trained to detect narcotic substances by smell. The dog approaches the person carrying ganja or drugs and barks to alert the police,” he said.

One Town Circle Inspector B. Suneel Kumar said Sahil Ahmed, 38, of Dangar Mohallah was caught with the help of Roma during a recent checking operation, and a case was registered at the One Town police station in Adilabad on Friday.