Creatures of Combat

 

 

The Royal family in Thimpu can never forget Alex, the Golden Yellow Labrador. The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan was stunned after an unsuccessful attempt on the life of their beloved ruler, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in July, 1965. Though, the assassination had been foiled by security guards, the killer still remained at large. When nothing seemed like working, Alex stepped in.

Traversing through metres of dense forests and slippery slopes with a panache which comes naturally to a Lab, Alex finally caught up with the assailant. The Royal family still remembers the friendly yet alert Alex, the eyes became a little misty, reminiscing the days gone by and services rendered.

Like many other smart canines trained for combat and search, Alex's skills too were honed at the Remount & Veterinary Corps (RVC), Meerut, veritably the Army’s Animal Corp. Officers at the RVC recall with justifiable pride the feats of their faithful four-legged compatriots in detecting live bombs, sniffing out terrorists, ferreting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and patrolling and other security duties.

Alex is not alone either. At the RVC, legendary tales abound of canine valour and skill. After a typically tough schedule which involves intense training with dogs, Col. Jagdeep of RVC recalls October 25, 1999, when an army dog helped security forces seize one of the largest caches of IEDs. And there are many such stories, both during peace and wartime.

Before an army dog is deployed, militarily speaking, it has to go through the paces. On a cloudy evening, a TSI team saw the dogs go to work. A ‘puppy aptitude test’ determines the canine’s particular niche. Not all dogs, for instance, can do everything. Based on the outcome of the test, a puppy could be trained as a mine or explosives detection dog, infantry patrol dog, guard dog or a search and rescue dog. Colonel CK Bhalla explains the gradations. “If a puppy comes readily, wags his tail and jumps a bit, it is regarded as social. They are used in mine and explosive detection. Then there are dominant, aggressive dogs who fit a different profile and can't be trained for search and rescue missions.”

The RVC was set up on December 14,1780. Set up by the then British Indian army, it was established primarily to supply mules to the animal transport unit and horses to the Presidents Bodyguards and other cavalry units. Over the centuries, it has also been tasked with the job of breeding, rearing and training dogs. Says Col. Jagdeep: “With the rising threat of terrorism, the importance of RVC is increasing. The critical role that dogs can play in detecting various explosive devices is being widely felt. There are various application modules to train them.”

Next morning we understood what these application modules meant. A series of intricate training manoeuvres that require considerable time and infinite patience. For instance, meat soup is scattered in the field and dog follows its trail. This session could go on for several days, even weeks. Stage two, the dogs are trained to search for explosives, using similar techniques. RVC trainers say, with some pride, that “a dog is trained to such a level that it can detect a particular smell in the mixture of 50 other smells.” Such USP naturally means that they are perpetually in demand.

The role of Army dogs in terrorist-affected Kashmir and North-East is increasingly being sought. And why not? After all, they have proved their utility wherever pressed into action. Army officials say they have been instrumental in the arrest of many militants. These canine foot soldiers have helped in recovering huge caches of ammunition and IEDs in the snow-laden rugged tracts of Jammu and Kashmir. It is difficult to forget the story of Rock, a Labrador, that assisted security forces nab four dreaded ultras and a large consignment of AK-47 assault weapons. Or the tale of Bindi, a tracker dog, who caught an assailant by merely sniffing at his handkerchief, after the man had been hiding some distance away from the site of the crime.

Needless to say, the role of the handler is crucially important during training and after. A dog is trained to take his food only from his handler. Once man and beast have reached a fair level of association, both their jobs become relatively easier.

What is RVC’s other specialty, apart from rearing and training dogs? It boasts of the best equestrian training course in the country. RVC Commandant, Maj Gen J K Srivastava insists " our horses have made the army and the entire nation proud, winning medals in international championships." The cross-country course, spread over 120 acres, is unique in the world in the sense that it can serve all courses at the same time.” Says Col Rathore.

The course includes three show-jumping arenas with jumping sets. There are six dressage arenas with a marker. On the course, we saw a horse-rider deftly jumping over obstacles. The dare devilry over, Col Rathore introduces us to the rider, Major Deep Ahlawat, who has been a part of the equestrian team that had won a bronze medal at the Doha Asian games. Now, the RVC has an Olympic gold within its sights. The facilities on the course have improved over the years, particularly after the association with German Coach, Ralph Ehrenbrick, an Olympic medal winner. There is also the Boys Sports Company which was established in 2005 specifically for this purpose. Col SK Singh, Officer-Commanding told TSI: “Encouraged by our performance in such a short time span, we feel that we can produce results with the help of Sports Authority of India and are.”

Maj Gen Srivastava also pointed out that the army ensures that RVC wards "are given the best training and veterinary care possible" and "well looked after even after they retire from service."

The journey to the fascinating world of these mute sentinels was about to end. An ever-smiling Adjutant, Shailendra Kumar, describes the Centre and its inhabitants “as the unsung heroes of the Indian Army.” Whenever, a Rex or Alex in some corner of the country saves lives by detecting explosives or nabbing militants, these officers cannot but smirk with satisfaction. Its a job well done.