Two more racehorses to take Mounted Police strength to 72
Times of India | 27 February 2024
Kolkata: The Kolkata Mounted Police might be adding two racehorses to its stable soon. According to top police sources, two stallions — Sultan Suleman and Chetak — might be handed over by the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) at the end of the racing season some time in March.
“The two horses are likely to retire at the end of this racing season,” confirmed an officer.The two are part of the eight horses who were initially set to join the KP force this year.
The Kolkata Mounted Police has already received six racehorses who have now been inducted in the unit. These horses have been gifted by RCTC over the past six months. Aged between five and seven years — and named Full volume, Ghosht, Thiago, Insoko, Dubai Bay and Bahuleyan — this induction has taken the total number of horses in the unit to 70, the highest in the past five years. The sanctioned strength is 98.
“We have a lot of training programmes lined up in the future. Since the two horses are into active racing, we might find them suitable for equestrian events. However, both would go re-training as slowing them down will come as a challenge,” explained an officer.
Interestingly, it’s not only the Kolkata Mounted Police which will add to its strength. “Bengal Police, too, will be sending personnel to Delhi, Haryana and Punjab later this week to procure horses,” said an officer. Around six to eight horses might be bought at one go.
All 72 horses might not be staying in the KP stables for too long though. “A medical board has been created after a gap of three years. This board has undertaken medical examinations of all horses and there is a possibility that up to eight horses can be retired,” said an officer.
Mounted police is engaged in a range of law and order duties at present. But its basic difference from the other sections of the Kolkata Police force is that they are not allowed to do night patrol. But if the top cops at Lalbazar finally decide on using this police force for riot control apart from crowd control at Maidan, it would be a feather in their cap. “We now have the numbers to begin this operation,” said an officer.