Army’s assault dog ‘Zoom’ critically injured
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district on Monday, police said.
Two soldiers and a dog of the Army were also injured in the operation, an official spokesperson said.
A police spokesman said acting on specific information generated by police regarding the presence of terrorists in the Tangpawa area of Anantnag, a cordon and search operation was launched by security forces there Sunday evening.
During the search operation, as the search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter, the spokesman said.
In the ensuing encounter, two local terrorists linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site.
They have been identified as Aasif Ahmad Reshi, a resident of Sheikhpora Marhama Bijbehara, and Wakeel Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Naibasti Marhama, he said.
According to police records, the slain duo were categorized terrorists and involved in several terror crime cases, including attacks on police and security forces and civilian atrocities.
Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation, the police spokesman said.
An Army spokesperson said two soldiers and an Army dog were injured in the exchange of fire. The soldiers were evacuated to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital here and are stable, he said.
Two AK rifles and war-like stores were recovered from the encounter site, the spokesperson said.
The Army assault dog ‘Zoom’ was critically injured inside the house where the terrorists were holed up, the officials said.
“Zoom is a highly trained, ferocious, and committed canine. Has been trained to locate and bring down terrorists,” they said.
Zoom has been part of many active operations in south Kashmir, they said.
As usual, Zoom was tasked to clear the house where terrorists were hiding, they said.
However, during the operation, the canine received two gunshots and was critically injured, the officials said.
“Zoom identified and attacked the terrorists during which the canine received two gunshots,” they said. The officials, however, said the canine kept on fighting and performing his task which resulted in the killing of two terrorists. “Inspite of severe injuries, the brave soldier continued his task which resulted in neutralisation of two terrorists,” they added.
Zoom was rushed to the Army’s Vet Hospital here where the canine is currently under treatment, the officials said.
