Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) who went missing while travelling for duty in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district have been found dead, triggering fresh security concerns in the region. Their bullet-riddled bodies were recovered from a forested area in Dachhan on Thursday, November 12, officials said.
The deceased were identified as Rashpal Kumar, 45, and Bobby Chand, 57. Both were residents of Kiyar Dachhan and were attached to the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The discovery has raised concerns among security agencies, particularly because the service weapons carried by the two officers were missing. Investigators are examining whether the weapons were taken by the suspected attackers and whether the killings were linked to militant activity.
Security forces have intensified cordon and search operations across the area to trace those responsible. However, officials have not yet confirmed the identity of the attackers or established the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.
SPOs went missing while travelling for duty
According to officials, the two personnel went missing on November 10 while travelling towards an Army camp in the Dharna-Marwah sector. They had reportedly been assigned rotation duty at an Army post and were expected to reach their designated Temporary Operating Base (TOB).
However, the officers failed to arrive at their destination, raising concerns among their colleagues. Their disappearance prompted security agencies to launch a search operation across the surrounding forest areas.
The mobile phones of the missing personnel were initially reachable but were later switched off, adding to the uncertainty surrounding their whereabouts.
Following their disappearance, police and security personnel began searching the routes connecting Kiyar, Dachhan and the Dharna-Marwah sector. The operation was expanded to cover remote forest stretches and difficult mountainous terrain.
Their bodies were eventually recovered from the Dachhan forest area on Thursday morning. Both officers had sustained bullet injuries, officials confirmed.
The missing service weapons have emerged as a crucial aspect of the investigation. Security agencies are trying to establish whether the officers were intercepted during their journey and whether the attackers took their weapons after killing them.
Search operation intensified after body recovery
Security forces have stepped up their operations in Kishtwar following the recovery of the bodies. Additional personnel have been deployed to strengthen the security cordon and search the surrounding forest areas.
During the initial search, specialised teams equipped with drones and sniffer dogs were reportedly deployed to locate the missing personnel. Drones helped security teams scan inaccessible stretches, while ground personnel searched forest routes and nearby settlements.
The difficult geography of Dachhan has made the operation challenging. The region has dense forests, mountainous terrain and remote settlements, which can complicate surveillance and movement.
Following the discovery, security agencies widened the search to identify possible escape routes and locate the suspected attackers. The immediate priorities include recovering the missing weapons and establishing the sequence of events leading to the killings.
Officials are also examining available intelligence inputs to determine whether the incident could be connected to militant activity in the region.
Kishtwar remains sensitive security zone
The incident has renewed attention on the security situation in Kishtwar, a mountainous district in the Jammu region that has witnessed counter-insurgency operations in recent years.
The district’s remote villages and forested stretches have posed challenges for security forces attempting to track suspected militant movement.
Areas such as Marwah, Warwan and Dachhan remain important from a security perspective because of their difficult terrain and limited connectivity.
Local authorities have repeatedly urged residents to remain vigilant and share information about suspicious movement with the police and security agencies.
Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma had earlier appealed to residents in remote areas to cooperate with security personnel and report any unusual activity. Such cooperation, officials believe, is important for strengthening surveillance and preventing militant movement.
The latest killings are likely to intensify security checks and patrols across vulnerable locations in the district.
CRPF personnel injured in Kulgam firing
The incident in Kishtwar comes amid another security-related development in South Kashmir.
On Wednesday, three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured after unidentified motorcycle-borne attackers opened fire at a security checkpoint in the Nowpora Akhran area near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district.
The firing reportedly took place around 2.15 pm. The attackers fled after opening fire, prompting security forces to launch a cordon and search operation.
One of the injured CRPF personnel was reported to be in critical condition. Security teams continued their search for the attackers, while additional personnel were deployed to strengthen security in the surrounding areas.
The two incidents have increased vigilance across parts of Jammu and Kashmir, with security agencies closely monitoring developments and movement in vulnerable areas.
