Bodies of Missing Special Police Officers Found in Jammu and Kashmir

Discovery of the Officers' Bodies

The bodies of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) from Jammu and Kashmir, who went missing in the Dachhan area of Kishtwar district, were recovered on Thursday. Authorities confirmed that the deceased were identified as 45-year-old Rashpal Kumar and 57-year-old Babbi Chand, both residents of Kiar Dachhan.

Circumstances Surrounding Their Disappearance

The incident came to light when local residents reported hearing gunfire in the wild terrain between Kiar and Dherana on Wednesday afternoon. Shortly after, both officers lost contact, prompting police and security forces to initiate a joint search operation in the challenging area. The SPOs were en route to a temporary base of the 17 National Rifles in Marwah when they failed to reach their destination.

Ongoing Investigations and Challenges

An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that while the bodies of the officers have been located, their weapons remain unaccounted for. Authorities noted that ongoing anti-terror operations in the region have led to the elimination of several active militants, significantly diminishing their influence in the district. However, the difficult terrain and dense forests continue to pose operational challenges for security agencies. Efforts to contact IG (Jammu) Tejinder Singh, DIG (Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range) Sargun Shukla, and Kishtwar's Senior Superintendent of Police Suni Gupta for further updates have been unsuccessful.