Army assault dog 'Zoom' injured in anti-militancy operation, succumbs to injuries

Srinagar: The Indian Army’s assault dog "Zoom", who was injured during an encounter between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, died at Military Veterinary Hospital in Srinagar on Thursday, officials said.

Zoom was injured during an encounter at Tangpawa in south Kashmir on October 10 during which security forces shot dead two local Lashker-e-Toiba militants during the gunfight.

Zoom was 2 years and one month old, breed- Malinois or Belgian shepherd, active in service for the last 8 months, an army statement said.

"Our Army dog Zoom, who was under treatment at 54 AFVH, died around 12 noon. Apparently it was improving and responding well and looked fine till around 1145 when it suddenly started gasping and soon collapsed," the statement added.

This is the second Army dog who died in Kashmir valley during an anti-militancy operation. Earlier on July 31, 2022 Indian Army’s canine unit dog “Axel” was shot dead by militants during an anti-militancy operation in Manigam village of Jammu and Kashmir. (UNI)