Two Missing SPOs Found Dead in Kishtwar; J-K LG Manoj Sinha Condemns Killings

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday condemned the killing of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Kishtwar district, expressing grief over the deaths of the personnel who were killed in the line of duty.

In a post on X, Sinha identified the deceased as Babi Chand and Rashpal Kumar and described the attack as cowardly. He also extended his condolences to their families, saying their courage and dedication to the nation would be remembered.

"I am deeply grieved by the tragic loss of the brave personnel of Jammu & Kashmir Police, Shri Babi Chand and Shri Rashpal Kumar, who laid down their lives in the line of duty at Kishtwar. I strongly condemn the cowardly attack," Sinha wrote.

Paying tribute to the two personnel, he added that their "courage, unwavering dedication and selfless service to the nation will always be remembered". He said the administration stood in solidarity with the bereaved families during their time of grief.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also expressed grief over the killings on Thursday, condemning the incident as a "cowardly act of violence".

In a statement shared by the Office of the Chief Minister on X, Abdullah said he was deeply anguished by the deaths of SPOs Rashpal Kumar and Babi Chand. He extended condolences to their families and prayed for strength and courage for them to bear what he described as an irreparable loss.

BODIES RECOVERED IN REMOTE DACHHAN AREA

The bullet-riddled bodies of the two personnel were recovered on Thursday morning, a day after they went missing in the remote Dachhan belt of Kishtwar district.

The deceased were identified as Babi Chand, 57, and Rashpal Kumar, 45. Both were posted with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police at Kiyar village in Dachhan.

According to the information provided by the police, the two personnel went missing on Wednesday while travelling from their camp towards an Army post at Dharna-Marwah.

Their bodies were found the following morning, prompting condemnation from the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister.

POLITICAL LEADERS CONDEMN KILLINGS

Sinha's statement on Friday came a day after Abdullah denounced the incident and conveyed his condolences to the families. Both leaders paid tribute to the police personnel and acknowledged their service.

The killings have drawn attention to the security situation in the remote areas of Kishtwar district, where the two SPOs were deployed as part of the local police's Special Operations Group.

With inputs from ANI