‘Inspector Pheng’, the canine cop who helped nab serial killer gets teary farewell in Bareilly

Bareilly: Police Lines in Bareilly fell silent as officers gathered to bid farewell to one of their finest trackers – Inspector Pheng, a veteran German shepherd who passed away on Wednesday night after serving the UP Police with distinction for eight years.“Senior officers, dog squad personnel and constables placed floral wreaths on Pheng and offered him a final salute,” said SP City Manush Pareek. Handler Amit Kumar, who was present at the ceremony, fondly remembered his companion. “Pheng always performed his duty with complete dedication. He delivered major successes in several difficult cases,” he recalled.SSP Anurag Arya described Pheng as more than just a dog. “He was a trusted partner of the entire team.

As part of Bareilly Police’s dog squad, he assisted in multiple criminal investigations involving murder, theft, rape and other serious offences,” he said.Police officers said Pheng’s sharp scent-tracking skills proved invaluable in countless investigations and helped put several criminals behind bars over the course of his eight-year career. “His most notable contribution came in 2024, during the pursuit of Kuldeep Gangwar, accused of murdering nine women within a year.

Pheng tracked scents from the crime scenes, providing the breakthroughs that ultimately led to the arrest of Gangwar, who is currently lodged in Bareilly district jail,” the SSP added.Following the Gangwar case, Pheng became widely recognised across Bareilly as one of the force’s most reliable assets. Arya said Pheng’s contributions to the force would not be forgotten. “The dog squad is a vital part of police investigations and Pheng ‘s absence will always be felt,” he said.