Parwinder Sandhu
New Delhi, Jan 3 (.) In a land where the stories of valor and bravery of its soldiers flow unabated, the tale of a four-legged warrior whose heart was larger than any battlefield has resurfaced and gone viral on the social media handles. This is the story of Zoom, the Indian Army’s elite Belgian Malinois from a specialised assault dog unit, who had laid down his life during a fierce encounter with Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) terrorists in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir in October 2022.
Despite being shot twice, Zoom refused to retreat and give up the fight. Even as bullets tore through his body, he continued to engage the terrorists, buying valuable time for the Indian troops.
In a video that has resurfaced, the story of Zoom was again brought to life. The viral clip has his handler narrating the tale of Zoom’s valour. Deployed in high-risk engagements, Zoom led the charge against two Lashkar-linked Pakistani terrorists, fearlessly engaging them despite sustaining two critical bullet injuries. The video captures a chase with the loud sound of gunfire, before everything falls into an eerie, haunting silence.
“Even after I called him back, Zoom didn’t return immediately. He kept fighting the militants despite being badly hit. When he finally came back, I saw that his jaw had been shattered by a bullet and he had also been shot in the foot.
“We had only a basic medical kit with us. We quickly put bandages on him and gave him an injection before rushing him to the hospital. For three days, he kept fighting for his life. In the hospital, he would keep looking at me and trying to get up. His eyes would fill with tears because he couldn’t eat or drink. On the third day, he finally gave up. But even in his last moments, he never stopped trying,” said the soldier as tears choked his voice.
In a post on X, the Chinar Corps had paid tributes to the brave warrior. “Army Assault Canine ‘Zoom’ laid down his life in the line of duty. He suffered gunshot wounds during Op Tangpawa on 09 Oct 22 where he fought gallantly with terrorists, saving lives of soldiers. His selfless commitment and service to the Nation will be remembered forever,” the post read.
The young K9, just two years and a month old, succumbed to his injuries at the Army Veterinary Hospital in Srinagar after fighting for survival for nearly two days. He had been in active service for the past eight months.
Social media tributes first re-emerged on December 30, 2025, via social media posts detailing Zoom’s heroic stand, with posts intensifying over the next few days.
Trained for searches and assaults, Zoom spearheaded the mission, detecting and charging at the hidden terrorists to protect his handler and troops. Attached to ground forces in south Kashmir, Zoom exemplified the K9 units’ indispensable contribution to counter-terror ops.
Beyond medals, Zoom’s martyrdom represents a profound personal tragedy for his handler. For a soldier, a military dog is more than an asset, he’s a constant companion, protector, and family in uniform. Zoom’s sacrifice outlines the fact that true heroes wear collars, not just camouflage.
. PWS SAS
