Daijiworld Media Network - Kishtwar
Kishtwar, Nov 12: Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) went missing in the upper reaches of Dachhan in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Wednesday, prompting police and Army personnel to launch a massive joint search operation.
The missing personnel have been identified as Babi Chand (57) and Rashpal Kumar (45), both attached to the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police and posted at their camp in Kiyar village.
According to officials, the two were travelling from the Kiyar camp to an Army post at Dharna-Marwah when they failed to reach their destination. Their mobile phones were initially reachable but were later switched off, raising concerns over their whereabouts.
Following the incident, police and the Army's Rashtriya Rifles launched a joint search operation. Security personnel have been deployed across the surrounding mountainous and forested areas to trace the missing officers and ascertain the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.
Officials said it would be premature to link the incident to militant activity until further details emerge.
The disappearance has renewed focus on the security situation in Kishtwar, which has witnessed several terror-related incidents in recent years. Security forces have conducted successive counter-insurgency operations in the district, eliminating several active terrorists and weakening their presence. However, the challenging terrain and extensive forest areas continue to pose difficulties for security agencies.
According to available figures, five people, including four terrorists and an Army soldier, were killed in terror-related incidents in 2026. In 2025, three terrorists and an Army soldier lost their lives, while 2024 witnessed the deaths of three security personnel and two civilians.
The latest incident comes amid appeals from the district administration and security agencies for public cooperation in tackling terrorism.
On October 4, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma urged residents of Marwah, Warwan and Dachhan to unite against terrorism and promptly inform security forces about the movement of suspected militants.
He noted that the three remote areas had considerable tourism potential, but the presence of active militants continued to restrict tourist movement. Sharma stressed that peace and security were essential for promoting tourism and ensuring sustainable development in the region.