Two SPOs Missing in Kishtwar as Army Launches Search

Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) have gone missing in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, triggering a large-scale search operation involving the police and Army. The disappearance of the personnel has raised concern among security agencies, particularly because the incident occurred in a remote area that has witnessed counter-terrorism operations.

The missing personnel have been identified as Babi Chand and Rashpal Kumar. Both were posted with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police in the Kiyar village area of Dachhan. Officials said they were travelling from the Kiyar camp towards an Army post in the Dharna-Marwah area when they failed to reach their destination.

Who Are the Missing SPOs in Kishtwar?

Babi Chand and Rashpal Kumar are Special Police Officers serving with the local police’s Special Operations Group. Their disappearance has prompted an urgent response from security agencies because of the sensitive nature of the area and the circumstances surrounding their journey.

According to preliminary information, the two personnel were travelling towards an Army post after leaving the Kiyar camp. Their intended destination was in the Dharna-Marwah area, situated in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district.

Their phones were reportedly reachable during the initial period after they went missing but subsequently became switched off. The loss of mobile contact made it difficult for authorities to establish their location and increased concerns about their safety.

Officials have not confirmed what happened to the personnel after they left the camp. Their whereabouts remained unknown when the initial reports were published.

Police and Army Launch Joint Search Operation

Following the disappearance, police and the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles launched a joint search operation to locate the two SPOs. Security personnel have been deployed across surrounding areas to trace their movements and determine the circumstances in which they went missing.

The search is taking place in difficult mountainous and forested terrain. Such areas can make movement and search efforts challenging, particularly when security teams have to cover remote stretches with limited road access and communication facilities.

The operation has two immediate priorities: locating Babi Chand and Rashpal Kumar and establishing whether their disappearance resulted from an accident, a communication disruption or another incident. Authorities have not announced any confirmed breakthrough in the search.

The involvement of both police personnel and the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles reflects the seriousness with which security agencies are treating the incident. However, officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause of the disappearance before the investigation establishes the facts.

Why the Disappearance Has Raised Security Concerns

Kishtwar has remained an important area for counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Its remote settlements, mountainous landscape and extensive forest areas have presented continuing challenges for security agencies attempting to track militant activity.

The district has witnessed several security operations and terror-related incidents in recent years. The higher reaches, including forested areas, have been among the locations where security forces have conducted searches to locate suspected militants.

The latest disappearance has therefore attracted particular attention. The two SPOs were travelling towards an Army post when contact with them was lost, making it important for investigators to establish whether their disappearance has any connection with security-related activity in the region.

Nevertheless, the circumstances should not be treated as proof of a militant attack. Officials have said it would be premature to link the disappearance to militant activity until more information becomes available. No confirmed account of an attack or abduction had been established in the initial reporting.

What Makes the Dachhan-Marwah Region Difficult to Search?

The Dachhan-Marwah belt is part of Kishtwar’s higher reaches, where mountainous terrain and forest cover can complicate security operations. Search teams operating in such locations may have to cover steep slopes, isolated settlements and stretches with limited connectivity.

These geographical conditions can also make it harder to establish the movements of people who disappear while travelling between remote locations. When mobile phones become unreachable, investigators may need to rely on information from patrol personnel, local residents and other available leads to reconstruct the route taken.

For the ongoing operation, locating the last known positions of the missing SPOs and checking the routes between Kiyar camp and the Army post will be important. The search teams will also need to examine the surrounding terrain to establish whether the personnel may have moved away from their intended route.

Administration Seeks Public Cooperation Against Terrorism

The incident has renewed attention on the role of local residents in maintaining security in remote parts of Kishtwar. District authorities and security agencies have repeatedly called for cooperation from communities in areas such as Marwah, Warwan and Dachhan.

Earlier, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma appealed to residents of these areas to remain united against terrorism and share timely information about the movement of suspected militants with security forces.

Public cooperation can be important in remote regions where residents may have local knowledge of routes, settlements and unusual activity. Information shared by communities can help security agencies assess potential risks and respond more quickly to developments.

Authorities have also highlighted the importance of peace and security for the region’s development. Marwah, Warwan and Dachhan have tourism potential, but security concerns have restricted movement and affected the prospects of tourism-related activity.

What Happens Next in the Kishtwar Search Operation?

The immediate focus remains on finding Babi Chand and Rashpal Kumar. Police and Army teams are continuing efforts in the surrounding mountainous and forested areas, while officials seek to establish what happened after the two personnel left Kiyar camp.

Investigators will need to verify their last known movements, examine available information about the loss of phone connectivity and assess any leads that emerge during the search. These steps could help determine whether the disappearance involved an accident, an unexpected change of route or a security-related incident.

Until the missing personnel are traced and the circumstances are established, speculation about their fate or the involvement of militants would be premature. Authorities have not publicly confirmed that the two SPOs were abducted or attacked.

The disappearance of two police personnel in a sensitive part of Kishtwar has nevertheless placed security agencies on alert. The joint search operation is continuing, with their safe recovery the immediate priority.