J&K: 6-year-old Army Dog Kent Sacrifices Life While Protecting Her Handler in Rajouri Encounter – News18

Indian Army dog Kent made the supreme sacrifice on Tuesday during an encounter between the security forces and the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri. Soldier Kent, a six-year-old female labrador of the 21 Army Dog Unit, was at the forefront of the operation and died while shielding its handler during the encounter.

A Defence spokesperson said a brave Army dog, a six-year-old female Labrador from the 21 Army Dog Unit, also lost its life in the encounter while saving its handler.

“Army dog Kent was at the forefront of ‘Operation Sujaligala’. Kent was leading a column of soldiers on the trail of the fleeing terrorists. It came down under heavy hostile fire. While shielding its handler, it laid down its life in the best traditions of the Indian Army,” he said.

Union Minister of State General VK Singh also paid tributes to soldier Kent on microblogging site X.

https://twitter.com/Gen_VKSingh/status/1701620805661331903/photo/1

The encounter took place in the Narla area of Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. One terrorist was killed in the encounter. An Army jawan also lost his life in the operation while three other security personnel including an SPO were left injured.

Additional Director General of Police, Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh said the encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Narla village.

“One terrorist and an Army soldier were killed while three security personnel – two Army jawans and one special police officer – were injured in the gunfight,” he said.

The security forces launched a search and cordon operation in the forested Patrada area on Monday evening and fired a few rounds after noticing suspicious movement of two persons, the officials said.

The border districts of Rajouri and Poonch have witnessed several encounters this year, resulting in the killing of about 26 terrorists and 10 security personnel.