UKHRUL: In a significant boost to indigenous recognition under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Manipur’s native hunting breed, the Haofa dog has been inducted into the canine squads of the Assam Rifles. Named after the Tangkhul Naga community and traditionally reared in Ukhrul district, the Haofa is a medium-sized, compact and muscular hound known for its short black coat (often with white markings), golden oval eyes, strong sniffing ability and remarkable stamina.
Historically used for hunting and guarding by the Tangkhul community, the Haofa is valued for its intelligence, loyalty and natural disease resistance. These very traits made it a strong candidate when the Ministry of Home Affairs directed Central Armed Police Forces to induct Indian breeds instead of relying heavily on foreign dogs that often struggle with India’s diverse climate.
So far, six Haofa dogs have been trained and deployed by the Assam Rifles, primarily in narcotics detection roles. Their induction not only strengthens operational capabilities but also marks a proud recognition of Manipur’s indigenous canine heritage at the national level.
Once inducted, each dog undergoes 12 weeks of basic training followed by an intensive 36-week advanced course. The Assam Rifles, which is responsible for border security, counter-insurgency operations, and maintaining law and order in the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir, has an authorised canine strength of 344 dogs, with 253 currently deployed.
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Over the years, its canine units have won more than 140 central government medals for excellence in tracking and detection of explosives and narcotics—underscoring the significance of adding a resilient indigenous breed like the Haofa to its ranks.