Jammu, Nov 12: Massive Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) were launched on Thursday across the treacherous Dachchan-Marwah forests of Kishtwar and adjoining areas after the security forces recovered bullet-riddled bodies of two Special Police Officers (SPOs), who had gone missing while heading towards Dharna army post on November 11, 2026.
However, the service weapons of the slain SPOs remained missing.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Wednesday visited Kishtwar to take stock of the situation at the incident site and monitor intensive searches currently underway there.
He reportedly held a high level meeting with the senior officers of Army and central para-military forces to take assessment of security situation and operational preparedness.
However, there was no official word, so far, about the entire incident and evolving situation thereafter.
The slain SPOs, identified as Rashpal Kumar, 45 and Bobby Chand, 57 were part of SOG Kiyar sector in Dachchan. They were detailed for reporting at 17 RR TOB (Temporary Operational Base) camp in Marwah sector for duty on Wednesday (November 11, 2926) morning yet till late evening they did not reach there, thus triggering searches.
On Thursday evening, their bullet-riddled bodies were recovered 2-3 kms from the site from where they reportedly went missing.
Officials, preferring anonymity, said that besides the terror angle, the Police were working on other leads as well.
Notably, the security forces have established temporary operating bases in the remote, treacherous areas where the presence of terrorists is apprehended.
Slain SPOs were to report on one such TOBs of the army in Dachchan sector as a part of their (SPOs’) rotational duty to relieve their colleagues and they were on their way, while passing through dense forest stretch when they lost contacts, triggering panic and consequential searches.
Some reports quoting anonymous sources suggested that the duo came under an ambush by a group of terrorists, affiliated to Jaish-e-Muhammad, hidden and active in the area. The hidden terrorists sprayed bullets from a distance. Officially, however, none has corroborated these details.
Reinforced security forces, with special teans equipped with drones, other advanced technology and sniffer dogs were engaged in CASOs in search of assassins.
Treacherous forests of Dachchan-Marwah in Kishtwar district had the presence of local terrorists with even the security forces maintaining that around 20-30 terrorists were operating in the erstwhile Doda district area (encompassing Kishtwar district).
The belt in the recent past also reported suspicious movement, triggering search operations.
Focus of the security forces has been to eliminate terror ecosystem.
Following the incident, high alert has been issued across Kishtwar district with special nakes set up and rigorous search operations underway.
