(IN) Stray dogs are Indian Army's new best friends

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/On-the-border-stray-dogs-are-Armys\

-new-best-friends/articleshow/5035717.cms

 

On the border, stray dogs are Army's new best friends

Ajay Sura, TNN 21 September 2009, 01:25pm IST

 

AKHNOOR (JAMMU): While elsewhere in the country stray dogs are considered a

menace, in J & K they have become watchdogs for the Army against

infiltrators.

 

The Army is training stray dogs for help in detecting intruders and thus stop

infiltration from across the border. The Line of Control (LoC) between Akhnoor

and Sunderbani sectors is regularly used by infiltrators to cross fence. Though

troops remains vigilant round-the-clock, there are some moments when fence

remains attended, giving enough time to intruders to cross over. It is this gap

that the Army hopes the dogs could fill.

 

At least 25 infiltrators have been killed by security forces in August during

encounters along LoC. Sources say most of these infiltrators are from terrorist

outfits like Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Al Badr and LeT. Col N K Airy, spokesperson of

the Army�s 10 division, says: ��We decided to the train the mongrels

following shortage of pedigree dogs. They are smart and useful in this

terrain.��

 

Col Airy says the strays can recognise troops and civilians and starts barking

whenever they observe any movement of strangers near the fence. ��They

cannot be identified by the infiltrators.�� It is easy to train these dogs,

which do not need special diet like the breeds. ��They learn quickly with

little training,�� says Col Airy.

 

The international border from Jammu to Chamb is guarded by the BSF. The LoC is

guarded by the 10 division of the Army. The area is difficult to guard because

of the terrain and the Chenab river that flow into Pakistan. ��We have all

the best possible means to stop the infiltration but these local dogs have

emerged as an amazing security tool for us,�� says a senior army officer.

 

The Army has sophisticated gadgets like sensors, thermal imagers and advanced

infantry weapons, but infiltrators find gaps to sneak in. Recently soldiers at

Akhnoor sector found folded ladders near the high fence. On another occasion,

troops detected a 50-metre long tunnel during a search at Chapriyal in the

sector.

 

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Compassionate Crusaders Trust

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