Galwan, Shyok and Rezang: ITBP names its canine warriors after strategic locations
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Strategic names
According to a PTI report, Galwan, Shyok and Rezang along with 14 other Belgian Malinois puppies were on December 30 inducted into the combat canine ranks of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force that guards the country's LAC with China.
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Formally inducted
A 'namkaran parade' or ceremonial naming event was held at the training centre of the force in Bhanu near Chandigarh where its veterinary cadre chief DIG Sudhakar Natarajan adorned each pup with a special collar bearing its name and touched them with a silver sword on the right shoulder as a sign of induction into the ranks.
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Canine warriors
The ITBP handlers who carried them subsequently presented a crisp salute with a promise to keep them healthy, safe and fit for fighting. The puppies have been named after the various strategic geographical locations of the Ladakh sector where the ITBP is deployed as part of its primary task to guard the 3,488-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
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Markers of identity
PTI had reported earlier this month about the naming of these puppies, at the forces' National Training Centre for Dogs (NTCD) at Bhanu, as Ane-la, Galwan, Sasoma, Shyok, Chang-Chenmo, Chip-Chap, Daulat, Rezang, Rango, Charding, Imis, Yula, Srijap, Sultan-Chuksu, Mukhpri, Chung-Thung and Khardungi.
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Battle-hardened pedigree
They were born during September-October and their father Gala is deployed for counter-terrorist duties while mothers Olga and Olyshea who are sisters undertake anti-Maoist operations with the ITBP troops in Chhattisgarh.
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Fundamental reasons
"One is we are doing away with the practice of giving our canine buddies westernised names. Secondly, our troops deployed in bone numbing, blood freezing high altitude borders would feel a sense of pride when they call out the names enmeshed deeply into our force's ethos and glory instead of calling out to an Elizabeth or a Julius Cesar or Hamlet," he said. He stated the third reason to be that these names are "a crisp salute to all our troops deployed all along the excruciatingly tough borders, keeping the nation safe". (Representative Image)