India mourns four-legged martyr (VIDEO)
An Indian Army dog named Phantom died after being hit by a bullet fired by terrorists during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) region on Monday, the military said. Phantom played a critical role in combating the terrorists, according to army officials.
The four-year-old Belgian Malinois was an assault dog and had been posted with a unit since 2022.
“As our troops were closing in on the trapped terrorists, Phantom drew enemy fire, sustaining fatal injuries. The courage, loyalty and dedication of the canine – Phantom – will never be forgotten. We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero – a valiant Indian Army dog, Phantom,” the Army’s Jammu-based White Knight Corps said in a post on X.
The operation was part of an Indian security forces counteroffensive, launched after an attack on an army convoy in J&K’s Akhnoor area on Monday. They eventually gunned down three terrorists said to be responsible for the attack.
On Wednesday, the army laid a wreath near the mortal remains of Phantom, paying homage to his bravery and sacrifice.
#WATCH | J&K: Wreath laying ceremony of Indian Army's dog, Phantom performed in Udhampur. Phantom lost its life in an operation after terrorists fired upon an Army convoy near Asan, Sunderbani Sector on 28th October. pic.twitter.com/bXFa7dU6K8
— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2024
The conflict-prone region has been in the center of a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, as well as between China and India, and has seen an increased number of terrorist attacks both against military personnel and civilians in recent months. On October 24, an army vehicle was attacked just a few kilometers from the tourist hotspot of Baramulla district, killing two personnel and two civilians.
A similar attack followed on October 20, in which seven people were killed in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district when terrorists opened fire at the Z-Morh tunnel construction site. In June, they targeted a bus carrying civilians, resulting in nine deaths and 41 injuries.
All these attacks happened in Jammu district, which was previously considered less prone to militancy than the Kashmir Valley, where security forces maintain a firm grip. According to India Today, Jammu has seen a surge in violence, with 43 terror attacks in 2023 and at least 20 in 2024. New Delhi has accused Pakistan of sponsoring cross-border terrorism both at domestic and international forums.
The uptick in assaults also comes against the backdrop of recent local assembly elections in J&K – the first held in the region after the federal government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi canceled the region’s autonomy by abrogating Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
