Índian Army Dog ‘Kent’ Laid Down Her Life While Shielding Jawan In Rajouri Encounter
Indian Army dog ‘Kent’ laid down her life while saving the life of an Indian Army jawan during an anti-terrorist operation in the Rajouri district of Jammu. One terrorist has been killed while one Army jawan has been martyred in the ongoing operation.
Senior Army official told Republic that Kent was at the forefront of the operation in the Narla Bambal area of Rajouri district of Jammu. “Kent was leading a column of soldiers on the trail of fleeing terrorists. It came down under heavy hostile fire. While shielding its handler, it laid down its own life in the best traditions of the Indian Army,” he added.
Kent was six years old and was from the 21 Army Dog Unit; she was part of the Indian Army’s counter-insurgency unit deployed in the area. Kent had taken part in multiple counter-terror operations in four years of her service.
Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Indian Army neutralised one terrorist in the Narla Bambal area of Rajouri. Two Army jawans and one Special Police Officer of Jammu Kashmir Police have been injured in the ongoing encounter.
Forces have recovered items, which terrorists left before fleeing from the spot. Terrorists were carrying Solar chargers to charge their devices in the forests of Rajouri.
ADG Jammu Mukesh Singh told Republic, “One terrorist was killed while one Army jawan succumbed to his injury. Two army jawans and one SPO were also injured. Earlier, a senior police official told Republic that a group of terrorists had been trapped in the Narla Bambal area of Rajouri and an encounter was underway. The encounter ensued when a team of Special Operations Group of Rajouri Police along with the Indian Army approached the area where terrorists were hiding. Massive firing was underway from both sides till the last update came in.
In October last year, Indian Army Dog ‘Zoom’ of the 28 Army Dog Unit had lost its life and was posthumously awarded the Mention in Despatches award. Zoom died on October 13 last year after sustaining two gunshot injuries in Operation Tangpawa in South Kashmir’s Anantnag.
