Rolo, a two-year-old female Belgian Shepherd, has become a symbol of sacrifice in India’s ongoing war against Left-Wing Extremism. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sniffer dog, deployed in the Maoist-affected terrain of Chhattisgarh, succumbed to multiple bee stings during an intense 21-day anti-Maoist operation — the largest of its kind — that ended on May 11.
Rolo, trained to detect explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), was the only casualty from the security forces’ side during this coordinated assault on Maoist strongholds in the dense and dangerous Korgotalu hills region. The operation, which also involved the Chhattisgarh Police and special units from Telangana, is being hailed as a massive tactical success, with 31 Maoists neutralized and dozens of their encampments dismantled.
Rolo’s death occurred on April 27, when the search party she was accompanying was suddenly ambushed — not by Maoist fighters, but by a swarm of wild bees.
According to senior CRPF officials, the four-legged soldier was performing routine IED detection duties in the rugged terrain when the unit inadvertently disturbed a beehive. The swarm targeted Rolo with unusual ferocity. Though her handlers quickly attempted to protect her with a polythene sheet, the bees managed to infiltrate the covering and launched an aggressive attack.
“She was stung nearly 200 times,” a CRPF officer reported. “Despite our immediate efforts to shield her, the sheer number of bees overwhelmed our resources. She eventually broke free in distress and suffered further stings.” Her handlers rushed her from the site for emergency medical aid, but Rolo lost consciousness and did not survive the journey. She was declared dead upon arrival by CRPF veterinarians.
Honoring A Brave Canine Warrior
Recognizing her valour and the sacrifice she made, the CRPF Director General awarded Rolo a posthumous commendation medal. She is now remembered among the ranks of CRPF martyrs, a solemn reminder of the unpredictable dangers lurking in India’s insurgency-hit interiors.
Rolo was inducted into service just last year after undergoing specialized training at the CRPF’s Canine Training School in Taralu, located near Bengaluru, Karnataka. In the short span of her service, she played a critical role in several successful counter-insurgency efforts in the Bijapur-Mulugu sector, a Maoist stronghold spanning the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
Inside the Operation: India’s Largest Anti-Maoist Offensive
The massive 21-day operation, of which Rolo was a part, represents a significant escalation in India’s fight against Maoist insurgency. Security forces mobilized a multi-pronged approach involving satellite imagery, drone surveillance, and coordinated ground attacks.
Covering a large swathe of the Korgotalu Hills, the offensive led to 31 confirmed Maoist deaths and the seizure of arms, ammunition, and logistical supplies from multiple hideouts. The terrain, composed of thick jungles, deep caves, and remote valleys, posed challenges for the combat teams, who had to battle not just the insurgents but also wild animals, reptiles, and natural hazards.
Despite the success, the operation came at a cost. Eighteen personnel were injured, several seriously, with at least two undergoing leg amputations due to IED blasts triggered during the encounter phases.
While human losses are a tragically accepted part of military and paramilitary operations, the death of a working dog is a rare and deeply felt blow. Rolo was trained not only to detect hidden bombs but also to assist in high-risk reconnaissance missions in areas considered too dangerous for human scouts.
Her handlers recall her as “extremely alert and agile,” a companion who shared not only operational duties but also close bonds with her team. “She wasn’t just a dog. She was a soldier,” said a member of her unit. “We eat, march, and sleep together in the jungle. Her instincts kept us safe more than once.”
The Dangers of the Jungle Beyond the Enemy
While Maoist insurgents remain a key threat, this incident underscores the environmental hazards faced by security forces during long deployments in forested zones. The Korgotalu region, spanning the Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh and Mulugu in Telangana, is notorious for its challenging terrain. Teams often have to contend with wild bears, venomous snakes, swarms of bees, and other natural dangers that can prove just as lethal as enemy gunfire.
Security personnel are typically trained in survival tactics and jungle warfare, but the unpredictable nature of wildlife and insect behavior adds a volatile layer to every operation. While precautions are taken — including repellents, protective gear, and first-aid — these often fall short in extreme scenarios like that faced by Rolo.
The Unspoken Role of Canines in Combat
Dogs like Rolo are increasingly integral to India’s internal security apparatus. Specially trained breeds, including Belgian Shepherds, Labradors, and German Shepherds, are deployed in counter-insurgency, narcotics detection, and crowd control operations.
Canine units are trained for months, often more rigorously than their human counterparts in some aspects. They learn how to sniff out RDX, spot concealed weapons, track movement through dense undergrowth, and even sense ambushes before they happen.
Despite their critical role, their contributions often go unnoticed, making Rolo’s sacrifice a rare moment of public recognition for these canine heroes. With the neutralization of 31 Maoists, the CRPF has claimed a significant strategic gain in the region. The Korgotalu Hills have long served as a command zone for top Maoist leaders, and their clearing marks a shift in control dynamics.
Senior officials believe this operation has disrupted key Maoist supply lines and has forced surviving cadres to retreat deeper into neighboring forests or split into smaller groups — a classic sign of disarray. The operation is expected to continue in phases, with mop-up actions and surveillance likely to intensify over the coming weeks.
While headlines may focus on casualty numbers or tactical achievements, Rolo’s death brings into focus the unsung contributors to India’s national security. Her passing may not have involved a bullet or bomb, but it reflects the cost of war in its rawest form — one paid by the voiceless, loyal, and brave.
Her handlers are reportedly planning a small memorial at the unit’s base camp, with Rolo’s collar and medal to be preserved in the CRPF’s regimental archives. Rolo’s legacy, although silent, will live on in the dusty trails and dense jungles of Chhattisgarh, where she served not for glory, but for duty.
