Stung in the line of duty: CRPF sniffer dog Rolo dies after bee attack in Chhattisgarh anti-maoist operation

NEW DELHI: In a poignant reminder of the hidden dangers in conflict zones, a two-year-old Belgian Shepherd named Rolo, who was part of the CRPF’s elite canine squad , lost her life after being attacked by a swarm of bees during a major anti-Naxal operation in the Korgotalu hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.

Rolo was the sole casualty among the security personnel in the 21-day-long offensive led by the CRPF and Chhattisgarh Police, which concluded on May 11 and reportedly killed 31 maoists. The operation, hailed as the largest and most coordinated assault against Naxalites to date, left 18 troopers injured, some with severe blast injuries requiring amputations.

Deployed to sniff out explosives and IEDs, Rolo was conducting a search on April 27 when the team encountered an aggressive swarm of bees. According to CRPF officials who spoke to PTI, her handlers tried to shield her with a polythene sheet, but the bees slipped through and stung her nearly 200 times. In a panic, the dog broke free from the cover, exposing herself to more stings.

Despite emergency treatment and a rushed evacuation, Rolo succumbed to the effects of the attack before reaching a medical facility. She was declared dead on arrival by CRPF veterinarians.

Rolo had been inducted into anti-Naxal operations in April 2024 after intensive training at the CRPF's canine centre in Taralu, near Bengaluru. For her service and sacrifice, the CRPF Director General has awarded her a posthumous commendation medal.

“Rolo’s contribution was invaluable. She was a soldier in every sense,” a senior official said.

The Korgotalu hills, straddling Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur and Telangana’s Mulugu districts, are notorious for their treacherous terrain, dense forests, wild animals, and hidden threats, making them a long-time stronghold for Maoist insurgents .