Galwan, Daulat, Sasoma, Rezang, Mukhpari, Shyok — these are some of the names given to 17 dogs of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) inspired by strategic locations on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, where Indian and Chinese forces have been locked in a standoff since May this year. The naming ceremony was held by the force at its National Training Centre for Dogs at Panchkula in Haryana.
The 17 malinois pups, born two months ago to Gala (father) and Olga and Oleshya (the mothers) of ITBP's K9 dog squad, are the first of their kind to have been given both strategic and Indian names. Apart from the six named above, the others have been given the names of Ane-la, Chip-chap, Saser, Srijap, Charding, Sultan-chusku, Imis, Rango, Yula, Chung-Thung and Khardungi.
It was at Galwan that India lost 20 soldiers during a clash with the Chinese forces in June after the PLA ingressed eight kilometres into Indian territory north of Pangong lake. Since then, multiple talks have been held between the two counties, both at diplomatic and military level, to restore status quo ante with little achievement.
Apart from the six named above, the others have been given the names of Ane-la, Chip-chap, Saser, Srijap, Charding, Sultan-chusku, Imis, Rango, Yula, Chung-Thung and Khardungi
While Daulat is an obvious reference to the Daulat Beg Oldie sector, Rezang is named after Rezang La on the South Bank of Pangong Tso, where India occupied key strategic…
