Two Missing Special Police Officers Found Dead in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar

Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) who went missing while on patrol duty in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district have been found dead, officials said on Thursday. The deceased personnel have been identified as Rashpal Kumar and Babi Chand. They had reportedly gone missing on Wednesday while travelling towards a security post in the remote Dachhan-Marwah area of the district.

According to preliminary reports, the two officers were deployed for duty in the upper reaches of Kishtwar and were on their way to relieve personnel stationed at a security post when they disappeared. Gunshots were reportedly heard in the area around the time they went missing, triggering concerns over their safety.

Following their disappearance, security forces launched a search operation involving the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Teams searched the surrounding forest areas and difficult mountain terrain to trace the missing personnel. The bodies of the two SPOs were recovered on Thursday. Initial reports indicated that they had sustained bullet injuries. Their service weapons were also reportedly missing.

The incident has raised fresh security concerns in Kishtwar, a mountainous district that has witnessed counter-terrorism operations in recent years. Its dense forests and remote terrain have posed challenges for security forces conducting search and surveillance operations. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Further details about the suspected attackers, the motive behind the incident and the missing weapons are awaited. The incident comes amid continued security operations in the region to track militant activity and strengthen security in vulnerable areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.