The investigation into the case of four-year-old Shaina, a Labrador posted with the Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Crime Branch, has found her two handlers were negligent, leading to the canine’s death. They have been transferred from the Crime Branch to the local arms unit and their promotion from hawaldar to constable on December 31 was withdrawn by senior police officers. MID-DAY had reported the police dog’s death on October 17 in Autopsy to offer clues into Shaina’s death, on October 20.

According to sources, Hawaldars Bhagyesh Kumbhar and Ganesh More were posted with the Crime Branch Anti-Narcotics Department as handlers of Shaina, for the past four years. The probe revealed that even after knowing Shaina was ill, the two did not get her treated on time due to which her health deteriorated and she died at the government veterinary hospital in October last year.