Kishtwar, November 12: The bullet-riddled bodies of two Special Police Officers (SPOs), who went missing from the upper reaches of Dachhan in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Wednesday evening, were recovered on Thursday morning, triggering fresh security concerns in the Chenab Valley region.
The deceased have been identified as Babi Chand (57) and Rashpal Kumar (45), both attached to the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Kishtwar Police and posted at Kiyar village in Dachhan.
According to sources, the two SPOs were travelling from Kiyar camp towards an Army post at Dharna-Marwah when they reportedly went missing. Their mobile phones were initially reachable but were subsequently switched off, following which security agencies launched an extensive search operation in the area.
Their bodies were recovered on Thursday morning with multiple bullet injuries. The disappearance of their service weapons, reportedly an INSAS rifle and a .303 rifle, has raised suspicions of a possible terrorist attack.
Following the recovery, police, Army and other security personnel launched a joint search operation across the surrounding mountainous and forested areas to trace those responsible and recover the missing weapons.
Hizbul Mujahideen Presence in the Dachhan-Marwah Belt
The Dachhan-Marwah belt has historically remained a sensitive security zone due to the reported presence of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including Mohammad Amin alias Jahangir Saroori, Mudasir Hussain Ginoo of Tander village in Dachhan and Riaz Ahmed of Marwah.
According to police records and previous official investigations, the three have been identified as Hizbul Mujahideen operatives associated with terrorist activities in the Chenab Valley region.
Saroori has been among the longest-surviving terrorist commanders operating in the region. The difficult mountainous terrain, remote villages and extensive forest cover have continued to pose significant challenges for security agencies conducting counter-terrorism operations.
However, their involvement in the killing of the two SPOs has not been established, and authorities have not officially attributed responsibility for the incident to any particular terrorist group or individual.
Kishtwar’s Continuing Security Challenge
Kishtwar district has remained a focus of counter-terrorism operations, particularly in its remote and forested mountainous areas. Security forces have conducted several search operations and encounters in the region over the years to track down active terrorists.
Despite successive operations against terrorist networks, the difficult geographical conditions, inaccessible mountain villages and dense forests continue to create operational challenges for security agencies.
The latest killings have once again brought the security situation in the Dachhan-Marwah belt into focus. Investigating agencies are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, identify those responsible and recover the missing service weapons.
The incident also highlights the continuing security challenges faced by personnel deployed in remote parts of the Chenab Valley. Security agencies and the district administration have repeatedly appealed to residents to cooperate with authorities and report any suspicious movement to help maintain peace and security in the region.
