pBullet-riddled body of Special Police Officer recovered in Jammu and Kashmir: The deceased were identified as 57-year-old Babi Chand and 45-year-old Rashpal Kumar, they had gone missing while going to the army post, search operation was going on in the forest with drones and sniffer dogs.
A case of murder of two Special Police Officers (SPO) has come to light in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The bodies of the two soldiers, missing since Wednesday, were recovered in a bullet-riddled condition on Thursday. The deceased have been identified as 57-year-old Bobby Chand and 45-year-old Rashpal Kumar.
The service weapons of both the soldiers are also missing from the spot. For this reason, the involvement of terrorists is being suspected. However, security agencies have not yet officially confirmed the terrorist attack. After the incident, security has been increased in the area and investigation is being done.
Went missing while going from camp to army post
According to officials, both the SPOs were posted with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police in Kiyar village in Dachhan area of Kishtwar district. On Wednesday, both of them were going from their camp towards an army post located in Dharna-Marwah area. During this time he suddenly went missing.
Initially both were in contact on their mobile phones, but after some time their phones got switched off. It is being told that at the time when both of them went missing, sounds of firing were also heard in the area. Apart from this, information about Airtel mobile network being disrupted in the area has also come to light.
However, no direct link between these incidents has been confirmed. As soon as information was received about both of them missing, the police and army started a search operation. Additional police forces and army personnel were deployed in search of him.
Search in the forests with drones and sniffer dogs
To search for both the SPOs, security forces launched an operation from Kiyar village to the road leading to Dharna-Marwah and the surrounding forests. The help of drones was taken for searching in inaccessible hilly areas and dense forests. At the same time, sniffer dogs and additional security forces were also deployed at the ground level.
Many teams searched natural paths, forests and remote areas. During this time, inquiries were also made at the local level to gather information about both the soldiers. Eventually the bodies of both were recovered. Bullet marks were found on the dead bodies.
Suspicion on terrorists due to missing weapons
The most important thing in this incident is the disappearance of the service weapons of both the SPOs. Both the soldiers were working with the Special Operations Group of the police. In such a situation, non-receipt of their weapons has become a major aspect of the investigation.
Security agencies fear that terrorists may be behind this incident. However, the authorities have not yet declared it a terrorist attack. The police is investigating keeping all possible aspects in mind. It is also being ascertained what were the circumstances between the disappearance of the two soldiers and their murder.
The dead body of the missing SPO was found in October also
This is not the first case of murder of SPO in Kishtwar. Earlier, on October 15, 2026, SPO Bashir Ahmed had gone missing with his service rifle from the police picket located in Trigam, Kishtwar. The next day on 16 October, his body was found buried in a pit near a drain in Trigam forest. In this case, the police had arrested two people on charges of murder on October 19. Such incidents continuously coming to light have increased the concern regarding security in remote areas of Kishtwar.
Two hand grenades recovered in Baramulla, one suspect arrested
Here, on Thursday, security forces also recovered two hand grenades during a search operation in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. The police have arrested a suspect in this case.
According to the information, Baramulla Police along with the Army had conducted a search operation in Badarkot forest of Tangmarg. During this time, Ghulam Jilani Reshi, resident of Badarkot, was arrested. Two hand grenades were recovered from him. The police is interrogating him and trying to find out from where he got these grenades and where they were to be used.
Firing at CRPF camp in Kulgam, 3 soldiers injured
A day before this, on Wednesday, security forces were also attacked in Kulgam district. Here, unknown assailants riding a bike had opened fire on the soldiers posted on Naka duty at the CRPF camp in Akhran. Three CRPF soldiers were injured in this attack. He was admitted to Anantnag hospital.
CCTV footage of the incident also surfaced, in which the attackers were seen firing about 30 rounds in about 15 seconds. After committing the crime the attackers fled from the spot. Police and security agencies are busy searching for them.
548 terrorist incidents in three years
There have been continuous challenges in Jammu and Kashmir for the last few years due to terrorist activities and attacks on security forces. According to the available data, 548 terrorist incidents have been recorded in the state since 2024. 45 soldiers have been martyred in these incidents, while security forces have killed 138 terrorists.
Security agencies are on alert after recent incidents in Kishtwar, Kulgam and Baramulla. Especially in the dense forests and inaccessible hilly areas of Kishtwar, continuous operations are being conducted against the presence of terrorists. The incident of murder of two SPOs and disappearance of their weapons has posed a new challenge to the security system.