Two missing policemen found dead in J&K’s Kishtwar

The deaths of two missing SPOs came a day after terrorists opened fire on CRPF in south Kashmir’s Kulgam and left three personnel injured

Updated - November 12, 2026 09:54 am IST - Jammu

Kishtwar has remained a focus of counter-insurgency operations, with security forces continuing efforts to eliminate the remaining terrorist presence in its remote and forested areas. (Representational image) | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) of the J&K Police, who were part of an anti-terror operation, were found dead with bullet wounds, a day after they went missing from a dense forest area in the upper reaches of the Chenab Valley, officials said on Thursday (November 12, 2026).

Official sources said the bodies were spotted after a massive search was launched in the Kiyar Sector of Kishtwar’s Dachhan on Wednesday (November 11, 2026). The victims were identified as SPO Rashpal Kumar, 45, and SPO Bobby Chand, 57, both residents of Kiyar Dachhan, Kishtwar.

Initial reports suggested the duo went missing after accompanying a team from the Army’s 17 Rashtriya Rifles up to the Basnan area in the upper reaches of Kishtwar, with dense forests. The SPOs were part of the Temporary Operating Bases (TOBs), set up by the J&K Police after increased terrorist activity in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir since 2020. Both, however, failed to report back to the TOB Camp Dharna, Sector Marwah, Kishtwar on Wednesday (November 11, 2026).

Official sources said the area resonated with firing after the duo went missing. The mobile phones of the missing policemen also went off after a particular time.

However, the police have not issued any formal statement on the incident. They have not confirmed the involvement of terrorists in it.

The deaths of two missing SPOs came a day after terrorists opened fire on CRPF in south Kashmir’s Kulgam and left three personnel injured.

Published - November 12, 2026 06:45 am IST

Jammu and Kashmir / police

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