Jammu: Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) of the J&K Police, who were part of an anti-terror operation, were found dead with bullet wounds, a day after they went missing from a dense forest area in the upper reaches of the Chenab Valley, officials said on Thursday (November 12, 2026).
The Victims
Official sources said the bodies were spotted after a massive search was launched in the Kiyar Sector of Kishtwar’s Dachhan on Wednesday (November 11, 2026).
The victims were identified as SPO Rashpal Kumar, 45, and SPO Bobby Chand, 57, both residents of Kiyar Dachhan, Kishtwar.
How They Went Missing
Initial reports suggested the duo went missing after accompanying a team from the Army’s 17 Rashtriya Rifles up to the Basnan area in the upper reaches of Kishtwar, which has dense forests.
The SPOs were part of the Temporary Operating Bases (TOBs) set up by the J&K Police after increased terrorist activity in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir since 2020.
Both, however, failed to report back to the TOB Camp Dharna, Sector Marwah, Kishtwar on Wednesday.
What Officials Say
Official sources said the area resonated with firing after the duo went missing. The mobile phones of the missing policemen also went off after a particular time.
However, the police have not issued any formal statement on the incident, and have not confirmed the involvement of terrorists in it.
The Wider Context
The deaths of the two missing SPOs came a day after terrorists opened fire on CRPF in south Kashmir’s Kulgam, leaving three personnel injured.
