The bodies of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) were discovered in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, according to officials. Both men, identified as 57-year-old Babi Chand and 45-year-old Rashpal Kumar, were found with multiple bullet wounds following a search operation launched by security forces.
The deceased were personnel attached to the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police and were stationed at Kiyar village in the Dachhan belt. They had gone missing on Wednesday while traveling from their camp to a Temporary Operating Base of the 17 Rashtriya Rifles in the Dharna sector of Marwah to perform rotation duty. When they failed to report to the Army post, security teams initiated a joint search across the forested and mountainous terrain of the region.
Authorities confirmed that the service weapons belonging to both officers were missing from the scene. Officials stated that the recovery of the bodies alongside the disappearance of the firearms has led them to examine a potential militant angle regarding the deaths. Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar reported that the bodies were recovered at approximately 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Thursday.
Following the discovery, MLA Shagun Parihar urged the Union Home Minister to ensure that those responsible for the incident are held accountable. The region has seen ongoing security operations aimed at countering militant activity in its remote, mountainous areas, which security agencies have noted remain a focus for surveillance and search efforts.
Key facts
- The deceased officers were Babi Chand (57) and Rashpal Kumar (45), both residents of Kiyar village.
- The bodies were found on Thursday morning in the Kishtwar district with bullet injuries.
- The two men disappeared on Wednesday while en route to an Army base in the Dharna sector.
- The service weapons issued to the officers were found to be missing from the recovery site.
Why it matters
The incident has drawn attention to the persistent security challenges in the mountainous areas of Kishtwar, such as Marwah, Warwan, and Dachhan. Local officials have previously expressed concern that the presence of active militants in these remote settlements continues to hinder regional development and tourism potential.
Background
According to reported figures, terror-related incidents in Kishtwar resulted in five deaths in 2026, four deaths in 2025, and five in 2024, involving security personnel, civilians, and militants.
Source: News18, Times of India
Comments