The recovery of two missing Special Police Officers (SPOs) of Jammu and Kashmir Police in Kishtwar district has raised fresh security concerns in the region. The bodies of the two personnel, who had gone missing along with their service weapons while travelling to report for duty, were found on Thursday. While the circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unclear, the disappearance of their weapons has added another serious dimension to the incident.
The deceased were identified as Rashpal Kumar, 45, and Babbi Chand, 57, both residents of Kiyar Dachhan. They had gone missing on November 11 while travelling towards Dherana to join duty at a temporary base of the Army's 17 Rashtriya Rifles in Marwah. However, the two SPOs failed to reach their destination and subsequently lost contact with their colleagues. Local residents reportedly heard a few gunshots in the forested stretch between Kiyar and Dherana shortly before the two policemen went out of contact. Following the reports, Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces launched a joint search operation in the difficult terrain.
After an extensive search, the bodies of both personnel were recovered on Thursday. However, their service weapons could not be traced. "The bodies have been found but weapons are missing," an official said, declining to be named. The missing weapons have emerged as a major concern for security agencies, while the exact circumstances leading to the deaths of the two SPOs are yet to be established. The incident has brought renewed attention to the security challenges in the remote areas of Kishtwar, where dense forests and difficult geographical conditions often complicate surveillance and counter-insurgency operations.
Several counter-insurgency operations in the district have resulted in the elimination of active terrorists and weakened their presence. Nevertheless, the extensive forest cover, rugged mountains and scattered settlements continue to pose significant challenges for security forces. The latest incident is expected to intensify efforts to establish the sequence of events leading to the deaths of the two policemen and recover their missing weapons.
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