Two Special Police Officers who went missing during patrol in J&K’s Kishtwar found dead

Reports said locals heard gunshots in the area between Kiyar and Derana on Wednesday afternoon, shortly before the two SPOs went missing.

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Two Special Police Officers (SPOs), who went missing along with their weapons while on patrol in Kishtwar on Wednesday afternoon, were found dead on Thursday, people familiar with the matter said.

They identified the deceased Rashpal Kumar, 40, and Babbi Chand, 54, both residents of Dachan. Official confirmation is awaited.

Reports said locals heard gunshots in the area between Kiyar and Derana on Wednesday afternoon, shortly before the two SPOs went missing.

“The duo was reportedly part of a patrol. They were on their way to makeshift base of 17 RR in Basnan area of Inderwal. It is a remote area and mobile connectivity is poor,” said a police officer on condition of anonymity.

Following their disappearance, a massive joint search operation was launched by the police, CRPF and army to trace them. Security teams were deployed in the surrounding areas to establish their whereabouts and ascertain the circumstances surrounding their disappearance, officials said.

Both the SPOs were deployed with the 17 RR for patrolling the area. The upper reaches of Dachhan and Marwah in the Kishtwar region had served as safe havens for Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists during the peak of militancy in the Doda region.

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