Two Missing Special Police Officers Found Dead With Bullet Injuries in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar

Yugcharan News / 12-11-2026

Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, who went missing from a forested area in the upper reaches of the Chenab Valley, have been found dead with bullet injuries in Kishtwar district. The bodies of the two personnel were recovered on Thursday, November 12, a day after they failed to return to their designated security camp, officials said.

The deceased have been identified as SPO Rashpal Kumar, 45, and SPO Bobby Chand, 57. Both were residents of Kiyar Dachhan in Kishtwar. According to official sources, their bodies were spotted during a search operation launched in the Kiyar sector of Dachhan after the two policemen went missing on Wednesday, November 11.

The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in the remote and forested areas of the Chenab Valley, where security forces have been conducting counter-insurgency operations to track and eliminate the remaining terrorist presence. However, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have not issued a formal statement confirming the circumstances of the deaths or establishing whether terrorists were involved.

Two SPOs Failed to Return to Their Camp

According to initial information, Rashpal Kumar and Bobby Chand had accompanied a team of the Army’s 17 Rashtriya Rifles to the Basnan area in the upper reaches of Kishtwar. The region is characterised by dense forests and difficult terrain, which can make security operations and search efforts challenging.

Both personnel were associated with Temporary Operating Bases (TOBs) established by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the upper reaches of the Union Territory. They were expected to return to the TOB Camp at Dharna in Sector Marwah, Kishtwar, on Wednesday.

However, the two SPOs did not report back to the camp as scheduled. Their absence prompted a search operation in the surrounding area. Official sources said a large-scale search was launched in the Kiyar sector of Dachhan on Wednesday, following which the bodies were located.

The recovery of the bodies with bullet injuries has raised questions about what happened after the two personnel went missing. Investigating agencies will need to establish the sequence of events, including where and under what circumstances the two policemen sustained the fatal injuries.

Gunfire Reported After Their Disappearance

Official sources said the area echoed with gunfire after the two SPOs went missing. Their mobile phones also became unreachable after a certain point, adding to concerns about their safety.

The reported sound of firing and the subsequent discovery of the bodies have drawn attention to the possibility of a security-related incident. Nevertheless, the available information does not establish who opened fire or whether the shooting was connected to terrorist activity.

The police have not publicly confirmed any encounter, ambush or attack involving the two personnel. They have also not identified any suspected attackers. Until an official account emerges, the circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unclear.

The distinction is important because the recovery of bodies with bullet injuries, by itself, does not establish the identity of those responsible or the motive behind the incident.

Temporary Operating Bases in Sensitive Areas

The two SPOs were associated with Temporary Operating Bases set up by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in response to increased terrorist activity in the upper reaches of the region since 2020.

These bases are part of the security arrangements intended to strengthen the presence of police personnel in remote and forested locations. The difficult terrain in areas such as Kishtwar presents operational challenges for security forces, particularly when monitoring movement across isolated stretches and conducting counter-insurgency operations.

Kishtwar has remained an important focus of security operations in the Chenab Valley. Security forces have continued efforts to address the presence of terrorists in its remote areas. The deployment of personnel at temporary operating bases is among the measures used to maintain a security presence in locations that are difficult to access.

The deaths of the two SPOs have once again brought attention to the risks faced by police personnel operating in these areas. Both men were serving in a region where security forces have been engaged in sustained efforts to monitor and respond to militant activity.

Incident Follows Firing on CRPF Personnel in Kulgam

The deaths in Kishtwar came a day after terrorists reportedly opened fire on personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, leaving three personnel injured.

The two incidents have occurred within a short period in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. While the Kishtwar deaths are being viewed with concern because of the bullet injuries and the reported gunfire in the area, the police have not confirmed a terrorist connection.

The Kulgam firing and the deaths of the two SPOs have renewed attention on the security situation in the region. However, the available reports do not establish any direct connection between the two incidents.

Official Confirmation Awaited on Circumstances of Deaths

As of Thursday morning, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had not released a formal statement providing details about the deaths of Rashpal Kumar and Bobby Chand. The involvement of terrorists has also not been officially confirmed.

Key questions remain unanswered, including the circumstances in which the two personnel went missing, the source of the reported gunfire and the identity of those responsible for their deaths.

The recovery of their bodies marks a serious development for security operations in the upper reaches of Kishtwar. Further clarity is expected once the authorities establish the sequence of events and release verified information.

For now, the confirmed details are that the two SPOs went missing after accompanying an Army team to the Basnan area, failed to return to their camp at Dharna, and were subsequently found dead with bullet injuries during a search operation in the Kiyar sector of Dachhan. The police have yet to confirm whether the deaths were the result of a terrorist attack.