Congress demands probe into two SPOs' death in Kishtwar; BJP claims their remains were 'dishonoured'

Political parties raise questions about the death of the two men on November 12, with the J&K Police having not yet issued a statement on the matter

Raising questions regarding the circumstances that led to the deaths of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) in the upper reaches of Kishtwar on November 12, Jammu and Kashmir's ruling National Conference (NC) and the Congress on Sunday (November 15, 2026) demanded an investigation into the incident. The Bharatiya Janata Party alleged that the bodies of the deceased were "dishonoured", accusing the J&K Police of transporting them in a dumper truck.

J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra said these killings "should not only be probed from the angle of militancy, but other angles too..."

"The reports I got suggest that the two SPOs had gone hunting [on November 11] in the Dachhan area and crossed two Army pickets [into Marwan]. However, on the way back, the Army mistook them for militants because they were in civvies (civilian clothes). However, the BJP is propagating that the duo was killed by militants. The matter needs to be investigated," said Mr. Karra.

J&K Minister Javed Rana of the NC, while demanding more information about the incident, said, "These killings are unfortunate. The BJP removed Article 370, reduced the State to a Union Territory, and credited itself with having improved the situation. Then why are such killings taking place? I ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to answer this," said Mr. Rana.

Two SPOs, Babi Chand and Rashpal Kumar, were found dead with bullet wounds on October 12, a day after they were reported missing with their phones switched off in the upper reaches of Kishtwar while crossing the Dachhan-Warwan axis. So far, the J&K Police have not issued a statement on the circumstances leading to their deaths.

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha termed the killings "cowardly" and said, "Their unwavering commitment to serving the nation would always remain etched in public memory."

Police 'strategy'

Meanwhile, BJP leader and J&K Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma and BJP legislator Shagun Parihar questioned the J&K Police's "strategy" and the treatment of the bodies.

"Two SPOs climb a mountain range to assist the Army and carry out an operation. Is this an operational strategy? The local J&K Police officers are incompetent. I ask the Inspector General of Police (IGP) what strategy was followed, as the two were armed with an INSAS [rifle] and a .303 rifle. And they got killed. Why were they asked to assist the Army, which is strong enough? When the two SPOs were killed, no one reached the site till next morning," said Mr. Sharma.

He sought the recruitment of local residents into the police and a Special Operations Group (SOG) picket at the last village of Kishtwar. "A local police officer was recruiting overground workers as SPOs and sources. Such an officer should face action. The officer could not kill a single terrorist during his tenure, as six terrorists are still active in the area," said Mr. Sharma.

'Bodies dishonoured'

Ms. Parihar claimed that the transportation of the SPOs' mortal remains was done in a disrespectful manner. "Only after I spoke to the Lieutenant Governor did the top police officer reach the Kishtwar village. The bodies were dishonoured by being carried in a dumper. At the very least, their last rites must be conducted with dignity. There should be an inquiry and investigation into the officers and everyone involved, so that such incidents are not repeated," said Ms. Parihar, who lost her father and uncle in a terrorist attack in 2018.

She also claimed that the mosques in Kishtwar were being used to target a particular community. "It is a fact that mosques were used to target a community. We saw it in the 1990s in the Kashmir Valley, when Pandits were threatened with provocative slogans," said Ms. Parihar.

Reacting to Ms. Parihar's remarks, Mr. Karra of the Congress accused the BJP of "communalising the incident".

"The BJP leaders camping in Kishtwar are trying to communalise the matter. The BJP MLA's statement on Warwan mosques is being looked at by our Kishtwar district president. If false, Ms. Parihar should resign from her chair," said Mr. Karra.

Last rites

Meanwhile, the final rites of the slain policemen were held in their village amid protests by locals. Pawan Kumar, a family member of the slain SPOs, said, "We appeal to the L-G to order a CBI inquiry and not a police investigation."

He alleged that the two SPOs were asked to travel from the Dachhan area into Marwah, a separate area, "like sheep". "There are two posts in Dairana. Still, the two were directed to join the Army from Dachhan," he added.

Meanwhile, officials said anti-terror operations were underway in the Dachhan-Warwah forests of Kishtwar to find those who killed the two men and "recover the missing rifles".