Khan was infamous as the "Human GPS" because of his unmatched knowledge of secret infiltration routes across the treacherous terrain of the Line of Control (LoC).
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on Saturday eliminated Bagu Khan, alias Samandar Chacha, a notorious Hizbul operative who had been facilitating terrorist infiltration since 1995.
According to News18 Hindi, Khan was infamous as the 'Human GPS' because of his unmatched knowledge of secret infiltration routes across the treacherous terrain of the Line of Control (LoC). He was killed along with another terrorist during an infiltration attempt from the Nowshera Naar area of the Gurez sector.
Who was Bagu Khan, the 'Human GPS'?
For nearly 30 years, Khan was the go-to guide for Pakistan-based terror groups operating from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). His reputation rested on two factors:
Precision navigation of difficult mountain passes and rivers, often under harsh weather.
Unmatched success rate, of more than 100 infiltration attempts, security officials believe most were successful.
Though aligned with Hizbul Mujahideen, Khan reportedly helped almost every major terror group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and others, move men and weapons into the Kashmir Valley.
Security officials say, as per PTI, his death has 'decapitated a vital logistics link' that militant outfits relied on for decades.
The operation that ended his run
The Indian Army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said the operation was launched based on intelligence inputs from the Jammu and Kashmir Police about a likely infiltration attempt.
"Alert troops spotted suspicious movement in the Gurez sector and challenged the intruders, who responded with indiscriminate fire," the Army said. A gunfight ensued, leading to the killing of Khan and his associate.
Just two days earlier, security forces had foiled another infiltration attempt in the same sector, eliminating two terrorists.
Terror alert spreads beyond Kashmir
Even as the LoC witnessed heightened infiltration activity, security forces in Bihar sounded a high alert. According to PTI, inputs suggested that three Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives entered the state through Nepal.
The Bihar Police headquarters circulated their names and photographs to all district units, warning that the men had reportedly crossed over from Nepal into Araria.
The twin developments, Khan's killing in Kashmir and a fresh alert in Bihar, underline what officials describe as a 'multi-front infiltration push' by terror outfits.
Why Khan's death matters
Khan's elimination marks one of the most significant counter-infiltration successes in recent years. Security officials say it could:
Severely disrupt Pakistan-based groups' infiltration capabilities in Gurez and adjoining sectors.
Slow down attempts to smuggle weapons and trained operatives across the LoC.
Demoralise local networks that relied on his expertise.
For nearly three decades, Khan was the silent force behind Kashmir's persistent infiltration problem. His death, officials told PTI, could tilt the balance in India's favour, at least temporarily, along the volatile LoC corridors.