Indian Army's 'Axel' no more, brave dog killed in counter-terrorist operation laid to rest with official honours

SRINAGAR: An Indian Army dog named 'Axel' lost his life in a counter-terrorist operation in the Kashmir valley on Saturday during a building clearance operation.

The two-year-old Axel was part of the 26 Army Dog Unit. He was killed in action after being hit by terrorist bullets while it was deployed in a counter-terrorist operation with 29 Rashtriya Rifles unit in the area of 10 Sector RR counter-insurgency force.

During a building clearance operation, another Army dog 'Balaji' was initially sent for building intervention and sanitised the corridor inside.

"After that, Axel was deployed. The dog went inside the first room and cleared it. As soon as it entered the second room, it was fired upon. After being hit, it showed some movement for 15 seconds and fell down," they said.

The gunfight continued between the troops and terrorists and once the operation was over, Axel's body was retrieved.

Post mortem was done at 54 Armed Force Veterinary Hospital which showed bullet entry and exit wounds, along with more than ten wounds with a fracture of the femur.

The brave dog was laid to rest with all official honours.