Two SPOs found shot dead in J&K's Kishtwar; weapons missing, terror angle probed
Synopsis
In what appears to be a targeted terror strike, two Special Police Officers were found shot dead in J&K's remote Kishtwar district on 12 November — their service weapons missing. The killings follow a near-identical SPO death in the same district last month and a CRPF ambush in Kulgam just 24 hours earlier, signalling a dangerous escalation across two districts.
Key Takeaways
Bodies of SPOs Babi Chand (57) and Rashpal Kumar (45) were recovered from the Dachhan belt, Kishtwar on 12 November 2026 .
Both were posted with the Special Operations Group (SOG) and went missing on Wednesday while en route to an Army post.
Their service weapons were not recovered , raising fears of a terrorist ambush.
A third SPO, Bashir Ahmed , was found dead under similar circumstances in the same district on 14 October 2026 .
The killings followed a CRPF ambush in Kulgam that injured three personnel just 24 hours earlier .
J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha visited the injured CRPF jawan and vowed accountability for the attacks.
The bullet-riddled bodies of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) who had gone missing since Wednesday were recovered on Thursday, 12 November 2026, from the remote Dachhan belt of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed. The absence of their service weapons has raised strong suspicions of a terror attack.
Who Were the Slain SPOs
The two SPOs were identified as Babi Chand, 57, and Rashpal Kumar, 45. Both were posted with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police at Kiyar village in Dachhan. They were last seen travelling from their camp toward an Army post at Dharna-Marwah. According to officials, they were part of a patrol party heading to the makeshift base of 17 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) in the Basnan area of Inderwal — a stretch described as remote with poor mobile connectivity.
Gunshots Heard Before They Vanished
Locals reportedly heard gunshots in the area between Kiyar and Derana before the two SPOs went missing on Wednesday. The recovery of their bodies the following day, without their service weapons, deepened official concern that a targeted terrorist attack had taken place. A massive joint search operation involving the police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Army had been launched immediately after they were reported missing.
A Disturbing Pattern in Kishtwar
This is not an isolated incident. On 14 October, another SPO — Bashir Ahmed, 55, a resident of Wanipora Trigam and posted at the Pedil police post since 2025 — went missing from his post along with his service self-loading rifle (SLR). His body was found near his residence two days later. The latest killings represent at least the third SPO fatality in Kishtwar in under a month, pointing to a sustained targeting of auxiliary police personnel in the district.
CRPF Attack in Kulgam Just Hours Earlier
Thursday's recovery came barely 24 hours after terrorists attacked a CRPF team at Akhran near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district, injuring three personnel. One critically wounded CRPF jawan was airlifted to the 92 Base Hospital of the Army in Srinagar; the other two injured personnel are reported to be stable. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the base hospital on Wednesday evening to check on the injured jawan, asserting that those responsible for the attack would be held accountable.
Security Situation and What Comes Next
The twin incidents — the Kulgam CRPF ambush and the Kishtwar SPO killings — underscore a sharp spike in militant activity across Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces have intensified cordon-and-search operations in both districts. With service weapons reportedly in the hands of militants following both Kishtwar incidents, officials are on high alert for further attacks. Investigations into the precise circumstances of the SPOs' deaths are ongoing.
Point of View
Combined with missing service weapons, suggests militants are conducting deliberate targeting operations against the SOG network that has historically been effective at local intelligence gathering. The Kulgam CRPF ambush the same week adds a geographic dimension: pressure is being applied across both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions simultaneously. What mainstream coverage underweights is the structural vulnerability of SPOs — they operate in remote, low-connectivity terrain with limited backup, making them disproportionately exposed to such ambushes. If service weapons are now circulating among militant groups after these incidents, the security calculus in Kishtwar deteriorates further.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two SPOs killed in Kishtwar?
The two SPOs were Babi Chand, 57 , and Rashpal Kumar, 45 , both posted with the Special Operations Group of the local police at Kiyar village in Kishtwar's Dachhan belt. They were found shot dead on 12 November 2026, a day after going missing while on patrol.
What raised suspicions of a terror attack in the Kishtwar SPO case?
The service weapons of both slain SPOs were not found at the scene, strongly suggesting they were taken by attackers. Locals had also reported hearing gunshots in the area between Kiyar and Derana before the two men went missing on Wednesday.
Has something similar happened in Kishtwar before?
Yes. On 14 October 2026, SPO Bashir Ahmed, 55, went missing from the Pedil police post along with his service SLR and was found dead near his residence two days later. Thursday's double killing marks at least the third such SPO fatality in Kishtwar within a month.
What happened in Kulgam around the same time?
Terrorists attacked a CRPF team at Akhran near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district just 24 hours before the Kishtwar bodies were recovered, injuring three personnel. One critically injured jawan was airlifted to the Army's 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar; the other two are stable.
What action has the administration taken?
A joint search operation by the police, CRPF, and Army was launched as soon as the SPOs were reported missing. J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha visited the injured CRPF jawan on Wednesday evening and stated that those responsible for the attacks would be held accountable. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
