Clip-clop tune getting stronger; 3 more horses to join city patrol duty

Currently, six horses patrol the city between East Fort and Manacaud in three shifts

- SHAN A S @T'Puram

The famed mounted police wing of the city police will soon see an increased presence in the street as the force is contemplating deploying three newly procured army horses on patrolling duty by mid-August. Currently, six horses are patrolling the city in three shifts and this would be increased to nine.

As of now, the shifts are scheduled from 6am to 8am in the morning, 5.30pm to 7.30pm in the evening, and 10pm to 2am at night. After the induction of the three horses, there will be an additional batch for night patrolling, which would be functioning from 10pm to 2am or 2am to 6am, sources said.

The mounted wing at present has got a bench strength of 14 horses. The actual sanctioned strength is 25. A full-fledged unit in its zenith used to patrol the length and breadth of the city once. As the number of horses dwindled, the areas covered under patrol came down.