A Special Police Officer (SPO), identified as Bashir Ahmed, aged 55, has gone missing along with his allotted SLR service rifle from Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Security forces have launched a manhunt, combing forests, transit routes, and nearby villages to trace him.

How He Went Missing

According to officials, Ahmed departed his post at the Trigham Police Picket on Wednesday morning, heading toward his home in Wanipora Trigam. He never arrived. His family, upon realising he had not returned, alerted authorities, setting off a search operation.

Multiple search teams comprising police and security personnel are currently conducting ground searches across nearby forests, transit corridors, and local villages. All possible angles are reportedly being examined to determine the circumstances of his disappearance.

Weather May Be a Factor

Heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions struck the Kishtwar region around the time Ahmed went missing, raising concerns that he may have accidentally slipped from a steep hillock in the area. However, officials have stressed that this remains unconfirmed, and the full circumstances surrounding the disappearance are still unclear. Investigators have not ruled out any angle at this stage.

Who Are Special Police Officers in J&K

Approximately 32,000 Special Police Officers are currently serving across the Jammu and Kashmir Police. SPOs are engaged under Section 18 of the J&K Police Act, 1983, to assist regular police forces in law-and-order duties and counter-insurgency operations across the Union Territory.

The J&K Home Department has amended the Jammu and Kashmir Police Rules, 1960, providing a 20% reservation in constable recruitment for SPOs — with 15% of direct recruitment constable posts earmarked for eligible SPOs and 5% reserved for the promotion of in-service followers. SPOs with a minimum of 3 years of engagement, those excelling at national or state-level sports, or those holding ITI or AICTE diplomas are eligible for absorption as constables, with upper age relaxations up to 40 years.

Legal Standing of SPOs

The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has repeatedly ruled that SPOs do not hold regular civil posts and are not covered under the full constitutional safeguards of Article 311 or regular departmental inquiries. Notably, 2026 High Court rulings established that while SPOs can be disengaged, authorities must provide a minimum safeguard of notice and an opportunity to reply if the disengagement is stigmatic, based on misconduct, or involves disputed records such as age or absence charges.

What Happens Next

Search operations remain active across the Kishtwar terrain as investigators continue to piece together Ahmed's movements on Wednesday. The recovery of the SLR service rifle is also a priority for security forces. Officials have said further details will be shared as the investigation progresses.