On the programme ‘Mann ki baat’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressed the nation hailing out the role of dogs in the security operations in the nation. These dogs have not only played important role in thwarting numerous bomb blasts and terrorist conspiracies but also in Disaster management and rescue missions, he said.
PM Modi specifically mentioned two such bravehearts -Sophe and Vida, the two dogs of the Indian Army who have been awarded the chief of the Army staff ‘Commendation Cards’ as India celebrated 74th Independence Day this year.
“Sophie and Vida received this honour because they performed their duties diligently while protecting their country. Our Armed forces and security forces have many such brave dogs who do not only live for the country but also sacrifie themselves for the country,” PM Modi said in this 68th edition of the monthly programme that was aired today.
Vida was part of an Army Dog Unit located in Northern Command, was conferred the medal for detecting five mines and one grenade buried underground. Sophie of Special Frontier Forces (Bomb Disposal Squad) sniffed out the presence of initiator/ accelerant which could have been hastly used to fabricate an IED, thereby saving precious lives.
“Such canines have played a very important role in thwarting numerous bomb blasts and terrorist conspiracies,” he said.
PM Modi modi extended by saying that some of them died while ensuring safety of human lives from terror- related incidents. “Balaram sniffed out ammunition on the route of the Amarnath Yatra. Dog Bhavana searched out IED in 2002. During unearthing the IED, terrorists triggered an explosion and brave dog were martyred. Two or Three years ago in Bijapur(Chattisgarh, a sniffer dog Cracker of CRPF also died in an IED blast,” he said.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also uses specially trained dozens of Dogs for rescue operations. In the event of an earthquake, building collapse, these dogs are experts in searching out people trapped under debris.
The superiority of these canine soldiers employed by the Indian Army has led to increasing demand for these Dogs from various neighbouhood countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Combodia. Japan has also shown interest on the training standards of Indian Army canines when their Chief of Staff visited the Dog Training Facility at Meerut in 2017.
