Two missing Jammu and Kashmir police officers found dead in Kishtwar
The bodies of two Special Police Officers were recovered from a forested area after they went missing during a patrol on Wednesday.
Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police were found dead in the Kishtwar district on Thursday, according to reports from Hindustan Times and The Hindu.
The deceased, identified as 45-year-old Rashpal Kumar and 57-year-old Babbi Chand, were residents of Kiyar Dachhan. They had gone missing on Wednesday while travelling from Kiyar to Dherana to join duty at a temporary 17 Rashtriya Rifles base in Marwah.
Local residents reported hearing gunfire in the woods between Kiyar and Dherana just before the officers lost contact. A joint search operation was subsequently launched by security forces in the rugged terrain.
While the bodies were recovered on Thursday, an official stated that the officers' service weapons are missing. PTI reported that the bodies showed signs of bullet wounds.
Officials noted that although counter-insurgency efforts have weakened terror networks in the Chenab Valley, the dense forests and mountainous geography of Kishtwar remain operational challenges for security agencies.