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| Bashir Ahmad War and his dog Mansi of the Indian army lost their lives while fighting the militants |
Staff Correspondent, August 11, 2015, NewsCrunch
A four-year old Labrador named Mansi and her handler, Bashir Ahmad War, lost their lives last Saturday night while foiling the bid of militants to cross over the Line of Control in Kupwara's Tanghdhar sector.
The Telegraph reports that both Mansi and Bashir Ahmad War belonged to the tracker dog unit of the 160 Territorial Army battalion in Kashmir.
The Commanding Officer of the unit, Colonel Chanderbhan Singh, said Mansi and Bashir Ahmad losing their lives in the same operation showed how much they cared for one another.
Bashir Ahmad's family recalled that they both were so close that Bashir treated Mansi as his own child.
In the light of Mansi's supreme sacrifice, it is yet again time and an opportunity to seriously consider issues concerning the well being of the army dogs during and after their service.
A senior army officer, while discussing Mansi and Bashir, told DNA"when a dog is injured on the battlefield, the army jumps into action in much the same way as it would do in case of an injured soldier."
But the question remains about what happens to these wonderful animals after their expiry date, when they become old and feeble.
It has been less than two months since the Times of India reported the recommendation from the Animal Welfare Board of India, headed by no less than a retired Major General with experience in managing canine units.
It urged the Ministry of Defense to come out with a policy that focused on the rehabilitation of the army dogs after their retirement, rather than the present practice of euthanising them.