Two SPOs Missing in Kishtwar: Search Under Way, Cause Still Unclear
Two locally deployed Special Police Officers were reported missing in remote Kishtwar. Reports of firing have not established what happened to them.
Missing on an operational route
Two Special Police Officers attached to policing operations in the Kishtwar region were reported missing on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. The reports placed the disappearance in the Dachhan–Marwah belt, a mountainous part of the district with difficult access and patchy communications. A search was launched after the personnel failed to reach their destination.
The officers have been identified in reporting as Rashpal Kumar and Babi Chand, though different outlets have given inconsistent spellings and ages. TCN is avoiding an unverified age and will follow the police’s authoritative identification.
Reports of firing
Some news organisations said firing had been heard in the Deharna forest area before the men were reported missing. Others emphasised that no official announcement had established a causal connection. The difference is crucial. Hearing gunfire in an area and proving that missing individuals were attacked are separate propositions.
An investigation must determine their last confirmed location, time of departure, intended route, radio and mobile contact history and whether colleagues or local residents can provide direct evidence. Publishing speculation about abduction would distress families and could impair public understanding.
The operational challenge
Kishtwar’s steep terrain and extensive forest cover complicate physical search operations. Delays in communications or movement may have multiple causes. Reports that weapons were with the officers are part of the initial accounts and should be confirmed through an official briefing.
The operational response reportedly involved Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security personnel. Search progress should be described only from attributable updates. Photographs of an unrelated patrol or prior encounter must not be described as photographs of the missing men or this search.
What families and the public deserve
The immediate priority is finding the two officers and establishing their welfare. Public communication should include confirmed developments, without revealing details that could jeopardise search operations or compromise a subsequent investigation.
On Thursday morning the available reporting left the circumstances unresolved. TCN will update this article if police establish their whereabouts, make a verified statement about the reports of firing or report any arrests.
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