2 missing J&K special police officers found riddled with bullets
What's the story
Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) who had gone missing during a patrolling duty in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Wednesday have been found dead. The bodies of Rishipal Kumar (45) and Bobby Chand (57) were recovered from the Dherna forest area by a search party. Gunshots were heard in the area around the time they went missing, per reports. Both SPOs were found with bullet wounds, one on the head and another on the back, indicating they were ambushed.
Investigation underway
SPOs were on patrol duty with the Army
The SPOs were on patrol duty with the Army when they went missing. They were reportedly on their way to relieve a team of the Army's 17 Rashtriya Rifles at Basnan.
Their mobile phones were initially reachable but later switched off.
India Today reported that Airtel mobile network services in the Marwah area were disrupted around 3:30pm when the gunfire was heard.
Counter-insurgency efforts
Kishtwar district has been a hotspot for security operations
A joint search operation by police and security forces was launched, which included drones and sniffer dogs to cover difficult terrains.
Their bodies were eventually found, riddled with bullets. Their weapons were not found, officials told PTI.
Kishtwar district has been a hotspot for security operations against terrorists. The area is known for its remote and forested regions where terrorists often hide.
Rising violence
Similar incident in October
This incident comes weeks after another SPO, Bashir Ahmed (55), was found dead near his home in Wanipora Trigam on October 16.
Ahmed had gone missing while returning from duty with his service-issued Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) and magazine.
A police investigation later revealed that he was murdered by relatives over a land dispute.