Hours after recovering the bullet-riddled bodies of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) from the Dachhan area of Kishtwar district, police in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday released posters of three wanted terrorists operating in the mountainous region.
The police also announced a cash reward of ₹30 lakh for information leading to their arrest.
The wanted terrorists have been identified as Mohammad Amin alias Jahangir, Riaz Ahmed alias Hazari and Mudassir Hussain.
Police have appealed to the general public to share any information regarding the whereabouts of the wanted terrorists.
Anyone having information can contact Kishtwar Police on 9797900958 or 1995357494.
The police have assured that the identity of the informant will be kept strictly confidential.
Bullet-Riddled Bodies of Two SPOs Recovered in Dachhan
As reported earlier, the bodies of two Special Police Officers (SPOs), who went missing from the upper reaches of the remote Dachhan area in Kishtwar district on Wednesday, were recovered on Thursday morning with bullet injuries. Their service weapons were also missing.
The deceased were identified as Babi Chand, 57, and Rashpal Kumar, 45. Both were posted with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police at Kiyar village in Dachhan.
They were travelling from their camp to an army post for patrolling duty at Dharna-Marwah when they went missing on Wednesday evening.
Following a massive search operation launched by security forces, the bodies of both SPOs were recovered on Thursday morning from a nearby area. However, their service weapons, including an INSAS rifle and a .303 rifle, along with some magazines and ammunition, were missing.
A massive operation has been launched to identify, track down and neutralise the assailants. Both SPOs were locals and were familiar with the terrain of the area.
Their mobile phones were initially reachable but were later switched off, raising concerns and prompting an extensive search operation.
Security forces rushed reinforcements and deployed specialised teams equipped with drones and sniffer dogs early Thursday morning. The search was expanded to cover a wider area around Kiyar and the route towards Dharna-Marwah.
While drones scanned inaccessible forest stretches, sniffer dogs assisted ground teams in tracking possible movement.
Kishtwar has remained a focus of counter-insurgency operations, which have resulted in the killing of several active terrorists. Security forces are continuing efforts to eliminate the remaining terrorists operating in the district’s remote and forested areas, officials said.
According to available figures, five people, including four terrorists and one Army soldier, were killed in terror-related incidents in 2026.
The latest incident comes against the backdrop of repeated appeals by the district administration and security agencies for greater public cooperation in tackling terrorism and ensuring lasting peace in the region.
LG Manoj Sinha Condemns Killing of SPOs
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday expressed deep grief over the loss of two Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel, Babi Chand and Rashpal Kumar, who laid down their lives in the line of duty in Kishtwar.
I am deeply grieved by the tragic loss of the brave personnel of Jammu & Kashmir Police, Shri Babi Chand and Shri Rashpal Kumar, who laid down their lives in line of duty at Kishtwar. I strongly condemn the cowardly attack.
Their courage, unwavering dedication and selfless service to the nation will always be remembered. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of immense grief. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them in solidarity.
— Manoj Sinha (@manojsinha_) November 13, 2026
In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor said, “I am deeply grieved by the tragic loss of the brave personnel of the Jammu & Kashmir Police, Babi Chand and Rashpal Kumar, who laid down their lives in the line of duty at Kishtwar. I strongly condemn the cowardly attack.”
“Their courage, unwavering dedication and selfless service to the nation will always be remembered. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of immense grief. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them in solidarity,” he added.