Chhattisgarh: CRPF dog ‘Susan’ dies on duty during anti-Maoist ops in Sukma; troops bid farewell with military honours

RAIPUR: ‘Susan’, a three-year-old Belgian Shepherd dog deployed with Central Reserve Police Force died on duty during an anti-Maoist operation in Sukma district of insurgency-hit Bastar division in Chhattisgarh. Her final journey was no less than that of a fallen warrior — wrapped in the Tricolour, carried on the shoulders of soldiers, and laid to rest with a guard of honour at the CRPF 231st Battalion Headquarters.She was not just a dog — she was a soldier in spirit. of CRPF’s elite K-9 unit, who had walked shoulder-to-shoulder with jawans through the dense forests of Bastar, officials said.According to officials, Susan’s health deteriorated during an operation in Sukma on October 13. She was immediately evacuated to a veterinary hospital but could not be revived. The cause of death is yet to be confirmed and will be known after the post-mortem report.In a solemn ceremony held at the CRPF 231st Battalion Headquarters, officers and jawans paid their final respects to . Draped in the Tricolour, the valiant canine received a guard of honour before being laid to rest — a gesture reserved for the bravest among the force.A CRPFcommandant described Susan as “a true companion and an inseparable part of the unit.”“Susan was was a brave soldier in every sense — brave, loyal, and ever-alert. She played a crucial role in several anti-Naxal operations and helped detect hundreds of IEDs hidden beneath the forest soil. Her contribution will always be remembered,” he said.