Kishtwar killings raise questions: Why were the cops sent to a base with its own SOG unit?

The deaths of two Special Police Officers in Kishtwar, India, have sparked questions about the decision to send them to a Temporary Operation Base (TOB) in an adjoining tehsil when their own SOG unit was already present there. Bobby Chand and Rachpal Kumar, both posted at an SOG post in Kiyar village, were killed in a shootout this week.

They had been sent to assist at the Dharna TOB, manned by the Army's counter-insurgency force, the Rashtriya Rifles. The TOB was one of several temporary bases set up in the area to maintain area domination throughout the year and prevent the movement of militants between neighboring districts. Reaching the TOB involves a nearly 7-8 hour trek through dense mountainous forests.

The two SPOs were heading towards the mountain ridge near Dharna when they came under fire and returned fire, exchanging nearly 40 rounds of gunfire. Their bodies were recovered the next morning, with their weapons missing, raising suspicions of potential involvement by local militants. The local BJP MLA, Sunil Sharma, intervened on behalf of the families, leading to financial assistance under SRO 43, the reinstatement of the police post in Kiyar, and an inquiry into the incident.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid tribute to the two officers, expressing deep grief over their loss and promising solidarity with their bereaved families.