Bhubaneswar: Axel, a specially trained sniffer dog engaged in the anti-bomb disposal squad of the Central Reserve Police Force, saved many lives on Thursday as he successfully detected an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by suspected Maoists at Hatamuniguda on the Rayagada-Muniguda road in Odisha’s Rayagada district, nearly 450 km from here.
The male dog, however, sustained grievous inju-ries to his legs and lower part of the eye while locating the IED. Bomb disposal experts defused the device once it was located.
According to sources, had the IED, weighing about five kg, not been detected early in the morning, the rebels would have triggered it off later in the day, inflicting heavy casualties on paramilitary personnel and equipment. CRPF and Odisha police personnel were to use that route for combing operations in Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Rayagada districts.
Seven-year-old Axel has been with the sniffer squad of the CRPF for four years now. His trainer, Shambhu Prasad, is taking care of him.
Meanwhile, the one-day bandh call given by the rebels in five states to protest the October 24 encounter in which 30 of their colleagues were eliminated in Malkangiri district, threw life out of gear in southern and western districts of Odisha.
Reports from Rayagada, Kandhamal Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nowrangpur districts said vehicular movement came to a halt, and attendance was thin at government and private offices. The rebels blocked roads at several areas by felling trees.
