A pair of army dogs, honored with the army chief’s commendation card on Independence Day for their heroic deeds, found a special mention in Mann Ki Baat’s speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, and Prime Minister He greeted them as “brave hearts” who diligently carried out their duties. to protect the country.
While Vida, a black Lab, sniffed out land mines and grenades during a mine clearance operation in Jammu and Kashmir and avoided army casualties; Sophie, a cocker spaniel from a bomb disposal unit, helped avert a tragedy by detecting explosives in Delhi, two army officials said. Their unique names and service numbers will be placed on the honor tables of their respective units.
Army dogs have contributed to a number of successful operations over the past year: they helped recover 30 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), played a key role in tracking and tracing five terrorists who were later eliminated, and facilitated recovery. of soldiers caught in avalanches, officials said.
“Our armed forces and security forces have many brave dogs, who not only live for the country, but also sacrifice themselves for the country. These canines have played a very important role in thwarting numerous bomb explosions and terrorist conspiracies, ”said the prime minister in his monthly radio address, referring to the outstanding contribution of dogs to military service alongside soldiers.
Five Labradors received recognition cards on Army Day 2020 for helping soldiers track down terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and sniff out deadly explosives in the northeast last year. The military has more than 1,000 dogs trained for a variety of functions, including mine and explosives detection, tracking, assault, infantry patrol, and search and rescue.
“Army dogs and their handlers perform dangerous tasks but receive little attention. Many of them have died in the combat zone. The prime minister has put them in the spotlight by highlighting their contribution in his speech, ”said a senior army official, who asked not to be named.
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Mansi, a Labrador, was posthumously “mentioned in dispatches” (the highest honor a dog can receive in military service in India) four years ago for her role in a counter-infiltration operation in northern Kashmir. Its handler, Bashir Ahmed War, was posthumously awarded the Sena Medal for bravery.
The Army’s Vet and Ski Corps (RVC) pioneered the training of war dogs in India in the late 1950s. “RVC-trained dogs are in demand in countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia. Additionally, South Africa, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Seychelles are training their dog handlers in India, ”the officials said.
In his speech, the prime minister also spoke about the courageous actions of Balaram, who detected explosives on the Amarnath Yatra route, and Bhavana, who sniffed an IED many years ago but was killed when the terrorists managed to fire the explosive.
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“Two or three years ago in Bijapur, Chattisgarh, a CRPF sniffer Cracker also achieved martyrdom in an IED explosion. You may have seen a very touching scene on TV a few days ago where the Beed police were giving their canine colleague Rocky one last goodbye with all due respect. Rocky had helped the police solve more than 300 cases, “said the prime minister.
The prime minister said indigenous dog breeds such as the Mudhol Hound, Himachali Hound, Rajapalayam, Kanni, Chippiparai and Kombai were “fabulous”, cheaper to breed and better adapted to the Indian environment. He said security forces were increasingly inducing these local breeds.
The prime minister said: “The next time you think about raising a pet dog, consider bringing home one of these Indian breeds. At a time when Atmanirbhar Bharat is becoming a mantra of the people, how can a domain be left out of its influence? “
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