Srinagar, Nov 12 (HS): Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday expressed shock and grief over the killing of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Kishtwar district, whose bullet-riddled bodies were recovered from a forest.

In a post on X, Bukhari said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” to learn that the bodies of the two SPOs, who went missing while on their way to duty in Kishtwar, had been found in a nearby forest. He described the incident as “deeply tragic and disturbing”.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families,” he said. “May they find the strength and courage to bear this immense loss. May the departed souls rest in peace.”

The bodies of the two SPOs, identified as Babi Chand (57) and Rashpal Kumar (45), were recovered from the remote Dachhan belt of Kishtwar early on Thursday, a day after they went missing, officials said. They were posted with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police at Kiyar village in Dachhan and had gone missing while travelling from their camp to an Army post at Dharna-Marwah.

The service weapons of the slain personnel were not found, raising suspicions of a possible terrorist angle, officials said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat