INDIA.Kashmir: A homage was paid to the Indian Army’s Elite Assault Dog “Axel”, which fell to terrorists’ bullets during an encounter in Kashmir’s Wanigambala area in Baramulla, on Sunday.
The two-year-old Belgian Malinois, the army’s most dependable canine, despite sustaining over 10 wounds latched onto the terrorist and saved the lives of many soldiers. A Defence Spokesman said, “Axel had been part of a few successful operations earlier and was an efficient assault dog.”
The canine was shot dead by a terrorist, minutes after it sniffed out the hiding terrorist. Initially, another assault dog, “Balaji”, went in to sanitize the building in Wanigam Bala village.
Axel was deployed after the first room of the building was sanitised. Axel first entered the same room and cleared it. No sooner than it entered the second room, the canine was fired upon by terrorists hiding there.
Axel was dead before he was rushed to a veterinary clinic. The dog’s body was retrieved after the firing between the troops and the terrorists was over. The dog’s post-mortem report showed that besides the bullet entry and exit wounds, it sustained more than ten other wounds along with a fracture on its femur.
A lone militant, identified as Akhtar Hussain Bhat, was killed while two soldiers and a policeman were wounded in the encounter. Axel, the light brown canine was a casualty in the encounter that lasted for five hours. An AK rifle, three magazines, and a pouch were recovered from the site after the encounter.
On Sunday, in a military ceremony, the last homage was paid to Axel. The ceremony was held at HQ 10 Sect Rashtriya Rifles (RR) (counter-insurgency force), Hyderbaig, Pattan (North Kashmir) and was attended by Major General SS Slaria, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Kilo Force, Officers and ranks of 10 sect RR and representatives of Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Wreaths were laid by the KILO force commander, Cdr 10 sect RR, CO 29 RR, and representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. In addition, the Officer Commanding, 26 Army Dog Unit, and Axel’s handler also paid last respects to the fallen canine.
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