
Zanjeer was a German Shepherd who became a hero in the city of Mumbai, India.
He was trained by his handler, Arun Tate, to detect explosives and was part of the Mumbai Police's bomb detection unit.
Zanjeer's keen sense of smell and trainability made him a valuable asset to the team.
On March 12, 1993, Zanjeer detected a bomb at the Air India building in Mumbai, preventing a potentially devastating explosion.
Heroic Actions
Zanjeer's heroic actions are a testament to his incredible skills and dedication to his work. He detected over 240 bombs during his career.
The Mumbai Police Bomb Detection Squad was incredibly dependent on Zanjeer, often bringing only him and no equipment to the scene. His handlers grew to rely on his keen sense of smell and three-bark alert system.
Zanjeer's work saved countless lives during the 1993 Mumbai bombings, a series of devastating terrorist attacks that took hundreds of victims. He also detected hundreds more weapons over the course of his career.
In his eight years of service, Zanjeer detected an astonishing 3,330 kg of RDX, a powerful explosive.
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Early Training

Zanjeer's early training was a crucial part of his development as a skilled detection dog. He trained at the Dog Training Centre of the Criminal Investigation Department at Shivaji Nagar in Pune, India.
At just a year old, Zanjeer started working for the Mumbai Bomb Squad in December 1992. He was part of a team that included only three other Doberman Pinschers: Kumar, Bindi, and Rajah.
The police used these dogs mainly for assistance in solving criminal cases, but Zanjeer's talents would soon take him to greater heights.
Indian Bomb-Sniffing Dog Hero
Zanjeer, the Indian bomb-sniffing dog, was a national hero who saved countless lives over the course of his career.
He was a Labrador Retriever who worked with the Mumbai Police Bomb Detection Squad and helped detect guns, over 240 bombs, 600 detonators, 250 hand grenades, 7,340 pounds of the explosive RDX, and 6,000 rounds of ammunition.
Zanjeer's work was invaluable, and his chief handler, Nandkumar Choughule, described him as "god sent." He was instrumental in detecting explosives during the 1993 terrorist bombings in Mumbai.
Zanjeer started working for the Mumbai Bomb Squad at just one year old, in December 1992, and continued his work for eight years, detecting hundreds more weapons.
He was trained at the Dog Training Centre of the Criminal Investigation Department at Shivaji Nagar in Pune, India, and was named after the 1973 Bollywood action film.
Zanjeer's talent and reliability made him a crucial member of the bomb squad, and he paved the way for detection dogs in law enforcement.
During his time with the bomb squad, Zanjeer detected over 3,330 kg of RDX, 175 petrol bombs, 249 hand grenades, and 6,406 rounds of live ammunition.
The bomb squad grew so dependent on Zanjeer that they would often bring only him and no equipment.
Death and Aftermath
Zanjeer died of bone cancer in 2000 and was buried with full police honours at a widely-attended ceremony.
His death was a significant loss to the country, but his legacy lives on in the strong sniffer dog squads that he helped establish in state police forces across the country.
Zanjeer's heroics laid the foundation for these squads, and today most state police departments have dog squads, including breeds like the Rajapalayam (Indian Sighthound) and Indian street dogs.
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Legacy

Zanjeer's legacy is a testament to the incredible impact one dog can have on society. He laid the foundation for detection-dog squads across India, paving the way for other canine heroes to follow in his footsteps.
The Indian government, along with Zanjeer's fellow officers, buried him with full state honors to acknowledge his impeccable service to his community. They laid floral wreaths over Zanjeer before his burial.
Zanjeer's work with the Mumbai Police Bomb Detection Squad helped detect hundreds of explosives, including over 240 bombs, 600 detonators, and 7,340 pounds of RDX. His contributions saved countless lives.
Local labor leader Dilip Mohite said that Zanjeer's extraordinary career with the police force deserves to be recognized. He was a much-loved dog, and his memory will not easily be forgotten.
Kapil Sharma's Dog Passes Away
Kapil Sharma's 9-year-old dog, Zanjeer, a Labrador, has passed away.
Zanjeer was a hyper-active dog who would often barge into the sets of Kapil Sharma's comedy show.

He got into a fight with a street dog a few days back, and was being treated for his wounds.
The treatment involved injecting him with medicine to prevent a flea infection.
Unfortunately, while being treated, Zanjeer lost consciousness and passed away on the doctor's table.
Kapil Sharma was extremely close to Zanjeer and had adopted him in July 2014 after meeting him at his friend Ganesh's place.
Zanjeer's owner, Kapil, had mentioned that he would often lock himself inside his office with Zanjeer and a bottle of alcohol during his low phase.
Zanjeer was a beloved companion to Kapil, and his passing is a sad loss.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanjeer_(dog)
- https://allthatsinteresting.com/zanjeer-dog
- https://dogwithblog.in/police-dog-zanjeer/
- https://allthatsinteresting.com/famous-dogs/2
- https://www.scrolldroll.com/zanjeer-the-mumbai-police-superdog/
- https://www.spotboye.com/television/television-news/sad-news-zanjeer-kapil-sharma-s-9-year-old-dog-is-no-more/5a602efc7d3d3ae515b68f8f
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