On the morning of June 14, Constable Atul received a call from a colleague at Delhi’s Mounted Police Unit. His seven-year-old stallion, Tilak — who had won a medal at a national sports meet earlier this year — was unwell.
Atul, who was at home at the time, rushed to the unit — and found Tilak in pain, kicking his legs. These were signs of an abdominal condition called colic, usually caused by problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
Atul and other officials from the unit rushed Tilak to a veterinary hospital near Tis Hazari Court for immediate medical attention. The next day, following an initial round of treatment, doctors referred the stallion to the District Veterinary Hospital in Hisar. Tilak underwent surgery there, but did not survive.
It was in the early hours of Tuesday (June 17) when Tilak took his last breath. “The doctors had asked me to help him walk a few steps, but he soon collapsed. A few minutes later, the doctors said Tilak was dead,” Atul told The Indian Express.
June 17 was also Atul’s 31st birthday. “I lost him the same day in my arms,” he said. “I will always miss him.”
Tilak was one of the most active horses in the Delhi Police and was always eager to play sports, according to Atul. “His nickname was Rocket. He ran very fast and was always excited to play jumping games.”
In December 2021, Tilak was brought from the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) farm of the Indian Army in Hempur. He was just a four-year-old, then. “He was purchased for Rs 6 lakh, along with a group of 15 horses, from the Army,” an officer at the unit said.
Story continues below this ad
Following training and practice sessions, Tilak was assigned to sports activities, the officer said. He added that the horses in the Mounted Police unit are often used for ceremonial duties, patrolling, and even sporting events.
Tilak had won a silver medal in the All India Police Equestrian Championship and Mounted Police Duty Meet 2024-25 held this March in Panchkula, Haryana.
“Tilak successfully qualified in the ‘Police Horse Test’ category, where he crossed six jump hurdles, a water pond, and a crowd of people and vehicles. This is considered one of the most difficult tests for a horse to pass,” another officer said.
With Tilak’s death, the number of horses in the Mounted Unit has dropped to 24; the sanctioned strength of the unit is 95.
Story continues below this ad
The horses are lodged in the stable yard at the Provisioning and Logistics unit in North Delhi’s Civil Lines. They are looked after by 50 staff members, including riders ranging from constables to sub-inspectors. The horses retire upon reaching the official retirement age of 16. They are then handed over to NGOs for further care.
Tilak’s post-mortem was conducted at the veterinary hospital in Hisar, and the report is awaited.
According to a veterinary doctor, colic is a very common condition in horses. It occurs when the animal overeats and is unable to digest the food properly. Sometimes, food or other indigestible material get stuck in the intestines, which can also lead to colic.
“In these conditions, the horse’s behaviour changes, and it often starts kicking its legs,” the doctor said.
