NEW DELHI: The Army’s canine soldiers continue to play a stellar role in detecting explosives and tracking terrorists during counter-terror operations. A six-year-old female Labrador named Kent has been posthumously honoured in the list of gallantry awards on Independence Day.
The golden-coloured Kent, a special tracker dog with Army number 08B2, laid down her life while trying to save her handler during an encounter with heavily armed terrorists in the Rajouri district of J&K in Sept last year.
A veteran of nine counter-terror operations, Kent had led the charge by a column of soldiers against terrorists holed up in Narla village under `Operation Sujaligala’. Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who was then the Northern Command chief, had said, “Our Kent laid down her life to save her handler. She attacked the terrorists by moving ahead first.”
The Army had given a ceremonial send-off to Kent, with her body wrapped in the Tricolour and wreaths laid on it after soldiers paid their last respects to her. On Wednesday, the brave four-legged soldier found mention in the 39 Mention-in-Despatches (MiD) after the first 103 gallantry medals in the list.
The MiD recognizes “distinguished and meritorious service in operational areas and acts of gallantry that are not of a sufficiently high order to warrant the grant of gallantry medals”.
Army dogs have been conferred with MiD and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards over the years. In 2022, for instance, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois named Axel was posthumously honoured with the MiD for sniffing out a terrorist in Baramulla district of J&K.
Earlier in 2020, a golden-brown Cocker Spaniel Sophie and a black Labrador Vida, who had sniffed out mines, grenades and other such stuff, received the CoAS commendation cards for performing their duties diligently in protecting the country.
A four-year-old Labrador named Mansi was possibly the first dog to be posthumously honoured with the MiD in 2016 after she and her handler laid down their lives while preventing an infiltration attempt in north Kashmir. “Dogs are force-multipliers during counter-terrorist operations,” an officer said.
The golden-coloured Kent, a special tracker dog with Army number 08B2, laid down her life while trying to save her handler during an encounter with heavily armed terrorists in the Rajouri district of J&K in Sept last year.
A veteran of nine counter-terror operations, Kent had led the charge by a column of soldiers against terrorists holed up in Narla village under `Operation Sujaligala’. Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who was then the Northern Command chief, had said, “Our Kent laid down her life to save her handler. She attacked the terrorists by moving ahead first.”
The Army had given a ceremonial send-off to Kent, with her body wrapped in the Tricolour and wreaths laid on it after soldiers paid their last respects to her. On Wednesday, the brave four-legged soldier found mention in the 39 Mention-in-Despatches (MiD) after the first 103 gallantry medals in the list.
The MiD recognizes “distinguished and meritorious service in operational areas and acts of gallantry that are not of a sufficiently high order to warrant the grant of gallantry medals”.
Army dogs have been conferred with MiD and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards over the years. In 2022, for instance, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois named Axel was posthumously honoured with the MiD for sniffing out a terrorist in Baramulla district of J&K.
Earlier in 2020, a golden-brown Cocker Spaniel Sophie and a black Labrador Vida, who had sniffed out mines, grenades and other such stuff, received the CoAS commendation cards for performing their duties diligently in protecting the country.
A four-year-old Labrador named Mansi was possibly the first dog to be posthumously honoured with the MiD in 2016 after she and her handler laid down their lives while preventing an infiltration attempt in north Kashmir. “Dogs are force-multipliers during counter-terrorist operations,” an officer said.