Jammu:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday paid tributes to two Special Police Officers (SPOs) killed in a suspected terror attack in the remote Dachhan area of Kishtwar district, as security forces intensified operations to track down the assailants. Kishtwar Police has announced a reward of ₹30 lakh for information leading to the arrest of three wanted terrorists in connection with the incident.
In a separate development, security agencies stepped up operations in South Kashmir following an attack on a CRPF post in Kulgam district, in which three paramilitary personnel were injured. Several suspects have been picked up for questioning as part of the investigation.
Expressing grief over the killing of the two police personnel, the Lieutenant Governor strongly condemned the attack and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
“I am deeply grieved by the tragic loss of the brave personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who laid down their lives in line of duty at Kishtwar. I strongly condemn the cowardly attack,” Sinha said in a post on X.
He said their courage, unwavering dedication and selfless service to the nation would always be remembered, adding that the administration stood in solidarity with the bereaved families.
The bullet-riddled bodies of the two SPOs, identified as Babi Chand (57) and Rashpal Kumar (45), were recovered early Thursday, a day after they went missing in the remote Dachhan area.
According to officials, the incident took place at an altitude of around 8,858 feet between Deharna and Kiyar villages when the two SPOs were travelling towards a post at Basnand for patrolling duty. Both were locals familiar with the difficult terrain and were posted with the Special Operations Group (SOG) at Kiyar.
Their service weapons, an INSAS rifle and a .303 rifle, along with magazines and ammunition, were missing and are suspected to have been taken away by the attackers. Empty cartridges of Pakistani-origin armour-piercing steel-core ammunition were also recovered from the scene. Preliminary investigation has ruled out the possibility of the two SPOs having been abducted before their killing, officials said.
In the aftermath of the killings, Kishtwar Police issued posters of three wanted terrorists — Mohammad Amin alias Jahangir, Riyaz Ahmed alias Hazari and Mudasir Hussain — and announced a cash reward of ₹30 lakh for information leading to their arrest. Police have appealed to the public to share information about their whereabouts and movements to help security agencies trace them.
A massive search operation involving security forces is underway to identify and track down those responsible. Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat visited Kishtwar district headquarters on Thursday evening to review the situation, while Jammu Inspector General of Police Tejinder Singh was expected to visit the area.
The remote location and difficult geographical conditions have added to the operational challenges. Deharna, which lacks direct all-weather road connectivity, is situated in the mountainous region around 30 to 50 km from Kishtwar town.
Meanwhile, in South Kashmir, CRPF Director General G P Singh visited Kulgam on Friday to review the security situation following Wednesday’s attack on a CRPF post in which three personnel were injured, one of them critically.
During his visit, Singh interacted with field officers of the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police at Sadura in Anantnag. Discussions focused on the prevailing security situation and measures to intensify counter-insurgency operations in the Valley.
The investigation into the Kulgam attack has gathered pace, with several suspects picked up for questioning. Security forces continued cordon and search operations in the affected area for the third consecutive day on Friday. Barricades have been erected at several locations, armoured vehicles deployed and vehicle checking intensified.
Security agencies are relying on both human and technical intelligence to identify those involved. Senior police and security officials have also visited the site and reviewed arrangements, while security has been strengthened in Srinagar and other districts.
