Search for missing SPOs ends in tragedy in J&K's Kishtwar

Jammu, Nov 12: The disappearance of two Special Police Officers in Kishtwar took a grim turn on Thursday when security forces recovered their bullet-riddled bodies from the remote Dachhan region, sparking an investigation into a suspected terrorist attack.

The slain officers were identified as Babi Chand (57) and Rashpal Kumar (45), both posted with the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Kiyar village of the remote Dachhan belt. They had gone missing on Wednesday while travelling from their camp to an Army post in the Dharna-Marwah area.

According to officials, the two were part of a patrol team heading towards a makeshift base of the Army's 17 Rashtriya Rifles unit in Basnan, Inderwal.

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“The two were part of a patrol party. They were on their way to he makeshift base of 17 RR in the Basnan area of Inderwal. It is a remote area with poor mobile connectivity,” officials said.

Locals reportedly heard gunshots between Kiyar and Derana shortly before the SPOs disappeared. A joint search operation involving the police, CRPF and Army was subsequently launched to trace them.

The bullet-riddled bodies were recovered on Thursday from the Dachhan area after extensive searches. With their service rifles unaccounted for, investigators are probing possible militant involvement.

The incident comes a day after terrorists attacked a CRPF team at Akhran near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district, injuring three personnel. One critically injured jawan was airlifted to the Army's 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, while the other two remain stable.

The killings have also brought back memories of a similar incident in October when SPO Bashir Ahmed, who had gone missing along with his service rifle from Kishtwar district, was found dead near his residence two days later.

Security forces have intensified vigil in the region as investigations into the latest killings continue.

(IANS)