Seven-year-old Drona, the most celebrated dog of the CRPF died in the line of duty during an anti naxal operation in Marwa forest area under Kurumgadh police station in Gumla district on Tuesday morning. His handler, Vishwajeet Kumbhkar, got critically injured in the landmine explosion and was airlifted to Ranchi for treatment.
The encounter site is situated around 25 km from district headquarter where left wing extremists of the CPI (Maoist) is very active.
Drona trained and commissioned in the CRPF in 2014, saved life of many CRPF personnel when he sniffed a landmine in the forest area laid by rebels.
“Drona was Belgian Shepherd breed. He has set an example of supreme sacrifice. He was a warrior. For rebels he was like a wrath of god. Unfortunately, while sniffing and detecting landmine Drona and his handler Vishwajeet Kumbhkar landed upon the landmine. There was a huge explosion in which Kumbhkar was seriously injured whereas Drona died on the spot. Kumbhkar was airlifted to Ranchi and admitted at Medica hospital where he was operated. His condition is stable,†said an official of the CRPF.
On Tuesday the bomb detection and disposal squad of the CRPF including 203 CoBRA battalion of the CRPF launched operation in the forest area on the basis of intelligence inputs that the self-styled zonal commander of the CPI (Maoist) Budheshwar Oraon is carpeting the forest area of Keragani,
Kochagani, Marwa and adjoining forest area with landmines to target security forces and villagers.
Besides, the security forces had information that Oraon along with armed squad is moving in the forest area. In the past in this forest area many villagers had lost their lives and limbs in the landmine blast.
Drona was the both — sniffer and tracker — and exceptionally sharp to identify friend and foe and had paved ways for many a successful operation of the CRPF. He was trained for cross country and guerrilla battle.
The dead dog was brought to Gumla where a postmortem was done. “His body will be taken to CRPF base camp at Barhi in Hazaribagh where last rites will be performed tomorrow. He is a martyr and his last rites will be performed as per the protocols of the CRPF like guard of honour. We have lost a trusted and brave buddy. He lived an eventful life,†said a CRPF officer.
