Kishtwar: Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a man and his son in connection with the alleged murder of a special police officer (SPO) in Kishtwar district, with investigators suspecting a longstanding land dispute as the possible motive behind the killing.

The accused, identified as Bashir Ahmed Dar and his son Nazir Ahmed Dar, are residents of Seran Wani in the Trigam area. According to the police, the two men are distant relatives of the deceased officer, Bashir Ahmad, and allegedly had a prolonged dispute with him over land.

The arrests followed a search operation launched after the 54-year-old SPO went missing on October 15 along with his service weapon. His body was recovered from a pit in a forest area the following day, October 16.

Police said questioning the two suspects helped investigators uncover the alleged conspiracy and establish the suspected motive. The weapon allegedly used in the crime, along with belongings of the deceased that had reportedly been concealed, was also recovered following disclosures made by the accused.

The investigation is continuing to establish the full sequence of events and determine the individual roles of the suspects.

SPO went missing with his service weapon

According to officials, Bashir Ahmad was reported missing by his family members on October 15 after he failed to return home from the Trigam police picket with his service weapon.

The 54-year-old officer was posted at the Pedil police post and had reportedly left for home on Thursday morning. When he did not return, his family raised the alarm, prompting Kishtwar Police to initiate a search for him and his missing weapon.

Police deployed multiple teams to trace the officer. The search operation covered the surrounding forest areas, as officers attempted to establish his whereabouts and locate the service weapon.

During the operation on October 16, police recovered the missing weapon from a forest area. His body was subsequently found buried in a pit in a nallah in the Seran Wani area of the Trigam forest, near his residence.

The recovery of the body turned the missing-person investigation into a murder case. Initial reports stated that the officer had sustained cut injuries to his throat. A forensic team was deployed to collect evidence from the scene, while officials said the exact cause of death would be established through a post-mortem examination.

The discovery of the body and the service weapon became key developments in the investigation, leading police to examine the circumstances surrounding the officer’s disappearance and identify those allegedly responsible.

Father and son suspected of murder

Police identified the arrested suspects as Bashir Ahmed Dar and Nazir Ahmed Dar, who live in Seran Wani in the Trigam area. The two are reportedly distant relatives of the deceased officer.

Investigators suspect that a longstanding land dispute between the parties may have led to the alleged murder. However, the suspected motive remains part of the ongoing investigation, and the allegations against the accused will have to be established through the legal process.

A police spokesperson said the suspects were taken in for questioning. Their questioning allegedly helped investigators uncover the conspiracy and understand the circumstances surrounding the killing.

Police also said the weapon allegedly used in the crime and the deceased officer’s concealed belongings were recovered following disclosures by the accused. The recoveries are being treated as important developments as investigators work to corroborate the suspected sequence of events with physical evidence.

The relationship between the accused and the deceased is also a significant aspect of the case, given the reported family connection and the alleged land dispute. Investigators will need to establish the nature of the dispute, whether it was directly connected to the crime and what role each accused allegedly played.

Murder case registered under BNS

Following the recovery of the body, Kishtwar Police registered a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with murder.

The registration of the case enabled investigators to proceed with a formal criminal investigation into the officer’s death. Police have since questioned the two suspects and pursued evidence relating to the alleged weapon used in the crime, the missing service weapon and the belongings reportedly concealed after the killing.

The forensic examination of the scene and the post-mortem findings are also important to establishing the circumstances of the death. Such evidence can help investigators reconstruct events and corroborate or challenge statements made during questioning.

Although police have indicated that the alleged land dispute could be the motive, further investigation is required to establish the precise circumstances of the killing. The evidence collected, witness statements and other findings will form part of the case against the accused.

With both suspects in custody, investigators are continuing to examine the sequence of events leading to the officer’s disappearance, the alleged murder and the subsequent concealment of his body and belongings.

Investigation continues in Kishtwar

The arrest of the father-son duo marks a significant development in the investigation into the death of the 54-year-old SPO. Police have said that questioning the suspects and recovering material connected with the alleged crime helped them make progress in the case.

The officer’s disappearance with his service weapon on October 15 had triggered a search operation involving multiple police teams. The recovery of the weapon and, later, his body on October 16 led investigators to pursue the case as a murder.

The suspected land dispute between the deceased and the accused is now a central line of investigation. Police will need to establish whether the dispute was the motive and determine the specific actions allegedly taken by each suspect.

The investigation remains crucial to clarifying the events surrounding the officer’s death and ensuring that the case proceeds on the basis of evidence. The allegations against the arrested men remain subject to the judicial process, and guilt must be established in court.