Jammu & Kashmir: Two SPOs go missing in Kishtwar; Army and Police launch major search operation

November 12, 2026

Jammu: Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) went missing on Wednesday from the upper reaches of the Dachhan area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. Following their disappearance, security forces have launched a large-scale joint search operation, officials stated.

The missing personnel have been identified as 57-year-old Bobby Chand and 45-year-old Rashpal Kumar. Both were attached to the local police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) and were stationed at a camp in Kiyar village, Dachhan.

According to officials, the two SPOs were traveling from the Kiyar camp toward an Army post in Dharna-Marwah but failed to reach their intended destination. Initially, they could be reached on their mobile phones, but subsequently, both phones were switched off, raising concerns regarding their safety and whereabouts.

Joint search operation by Army and Police underway

Following the disappearance of the two personnel, the police and the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles initiated a joint search operation. Officials stated that teams of security forces have been deployed across the surrounding areas. A search is being conducted through rugged, mountainous terrain and dense forests to locate the personnel and determine the circumstances behind their disappearance.

Officials have advised against linking this incident to terrorist activities at this stage, noting that it would be premature to draw any conclusions until further facts regarding the case emerge.

This incident has once again brought the security situation in Kishtwar district into focus, as the area has witnessed several terror-related incidents over the past few years.

Ongoing security operations are being conducted to neutralize terrorists active in the remote, forest-covered regions of Kishtwar. According to officials, the presence of terrorists in the district has weakened significantly following the elimination of several of them. However, the rugged, mountainous terrain and vast forests continue to pose a major challenge for security agencies.

Terror-related incidents in Kishtwar over the past few years

In recent years, both security forces and terrorists have lost their lives in Kishtwar district.

According to available data, five people—four terrorists and one Army soldier—died in terror-related incidents in 2026. In 2025, four individuals, including three terrorists and one Army soldier, lost their lives. In 2024, three security personnel and two civilians were killed.

This latest incident comes at a time when the district administration and security agencies are appealing to the local population for cooperation in combating terrorism and maintaining lasting peace in the region.

On October 4, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma urged residents of the remote areas of Marwah, Warwan, and Dachhan to stand united against terrorism and to promptly inform security forces about any suspicious activities by terrorists.

Sharma stated, “The Marwah, Warwan, and Dachhan regions hold immense potential for tourism; however, the presence of active terrorists is a key factor limiting the influx of tourists to the area.”

He emphasized that peace and security are essential for promoting tourism and ensuring the sustainable development of the region.