Jammu, Nov. 12 -- The killing of two special police officers (SPOs) Rashpal Kumar, 45, and Babbi Chand, 57, has brought the upper reaches of Marwah-Dachhan in Kishtwar district back into the security spotlight.

Marked by snow-clad peaks, steep cliffs, dense forests, creeks and natural hideouts, the mountainous terrain-compounded by poor mobile and road connectivity-has long served as a safe haven for terrorists.

According to intelligence assessments, Hizbul Mujahideen's longest-surviving commander, Jahangir Saroori, along with two accomplices, Riaz Ahmed, alias Hazari, and Mudassir Hussain, remains hidden in the upper reaches of the district.

Saroori, an A++ category terrorist whose real name is Mohammad Amin Butt, joined militancy in ...