Srinagar, November 15, 2026
Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Karra has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Kishtwar. Karra stated that there are claims suggesting the SPOs may have been mistakenly shot by security personnel who identified them as militants.
Addressing reporters in Srinagar on Sunday, Karra condemned the incident, emphasizing that regardless of who committed the act, many questions remain unanswered. He mentioned speaking with the party’s District President in Kishtwar, who provided reports indicating the two SPOs had gone hunting and were carrying firearms. According to this account, while en route, they passed through two security pickets without issue. However, on their return, it is suggested that the Army, mistaking them for militants due to their civilian attire, opened fire.
Karra also noted another narrative being promoted by the BJP, which attributes the killings to militants. He asserted that while the possibility of militancy needs to be investigated properly, other potential angles should also be thoroughly examined. The JKPCC chief further accused the BJP of attempting to communalize the incident, citing a statement from a local female MLA suggesting that an announcement was made from mosques in Warwan to kill Hindus. Karra strongly condemned this alleged statement, adding that the party’s District President in Kishtwar, who is Hindu, has been asked to challenge the MLA if such claims are unsubstantiated. Karra stated that a battery of BJP leaders in Kishtwar are attempting to communalize the situation.
The bodies of the two SPOs, identified as Rashpal Kumar and Babi Chand, were found on Thursday in a forest area of Kishtwar district, a day after they went missing. Both were part of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police and were posted at Kiyar village in Dachhan. They had reportedly gone missing while travelling from their camp to an Army post at Dharna-Marwah. Their service weapons were also reported missing, raising initial suspicions of a militant involvement.
Earlier, on October 19, a separate incident in Kishtwar involved the arrest of a father and son for the alleged murder of SPO Bashir Ahmad, with a land dispute suspected as the motive.
The family of two other martyred SPOs in Kishtwar has alleged police negligence regarding their deployment from Dachhan to Marwah and has appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for a CBI investigation. Pawan Kumar, a family member, questioned the decisions surrounding their deployment, claiming the area was outside their jurisdiction and raising concerns about why personnel from available security posts were not deployed instead. He alleged that the two SPOs were deliberately sent to the area and became victims of a planned attack, though these allegations have not been independently established.
The incident involving Kumar and Chand has also led to questions from political leaders. Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, expressed agitation over the killings, noting that Kiyar village is small and has seen several killings in recent years. He questioned the decision to send the SPOs without sophisticated weapons through a dense forest area, especially given its traditional use by militants.
The Chenab Times News Desk
