New Delhi: The CRPF Friday bid a solemn farewell to sniffer dog Rolo, a member of the 228 Battalion, in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma. The two-year-old Belgian Shepherd lost her life after being attacked by a swarm of bees during a major anti-Naxal operation in the Karegutta hills area, located along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
The CRPF Director General has paid tribute to Rolo by awarding her the DG’s Commendation Disc posthumously.
Rolo, who was part of the CRPF’s elite canine squad and trained in infantry patrolling and explosive detection before she joined anti-Naxal ops, had played a crucial role in several missions. The cause of her death was declared as anaphylactic shock after 200 bee stings.
Constable Shubham Gajanan of the 228 Battalion, who was also Rolo’s handler, told ANI that there is always an emotional connection between canine and handler. Describing what happened, he said Rolo had gone in to search an area that troops couldn’t enter, which is when she came in contact with a swarm of bees. She was given first aid but passed away on the way to a medical facility.
He said Rolo had played a significant role in saving troops from IEDs during major operations, and even in the days before her death, did her duty with full alertness.
“When a canine warrior passes away, it feels like a soldier has passed away,” said Gajanan.
(Inputs from ANI)
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)