Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral
In a remarkable display of courage and loyalty, Army dog Tyson played a decisive role in a counter-terror operation in the Chhatroo area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, guiding security forces to a concealed terrorist hideout and aiding in the killing of three operatives of Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Tyson, a German Shepherd with the Indian Army’s 2 Para (Special Forces), was sent ahead to probe a hideout dug into the steep and rugged terrain of Chhatroo. As he advanced, terrorists opened fire. Despite suffering a gunshot wound to his leg, Tyson continued moving forward, enabling troops to accurately identify the hideout’s exact location and neutralise it.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and special forces units.
Among those killed was Saifullah, a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist who had reportedly been active in the region for nearly two years and had previously evaded multiple security operations.
Security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and other materials from the site. Officials stated that the terrorists had managed to avoid capture by constantly shifting locations across forested and mountainous terrain. However, Tyson’s detection of the hideout proved crucial in ending their prolonged evasion.
The injured dog was later airlifted for medical treatment and is reported to be in stable condition. Locals in the area expressed relief following the successful operation.
Officials highlighted that the mission once again demonstrated the importance of trained Army dogs in counter-terror operations. In a previous encounter in October 2024, another Army dog, Phantom, a Belgian Malinois, was killed while shielding his handler and fellow soldiers during a gunfight, a sacrifice that helped security forces eliminate terrorists at the site.
The latest action was part of Operation Trashi-I, launched in January, which targets difficult forested and mountainous zones of Kishtwar district — including Chhatroo, Sonnar, Dolgam, and Dichhar — through sustained search-and-assault missions.
