The Story of Bagu Khan, a Terrorist Guide for 25 Years
WS/VP DESK
GUREZ, AUGUST 30 : An anti-militancy operation in the forests of north Kashmir’s Gurez sector has entered its third consecutive day. The initial phase of the operation is already being termed a significant success for security agencies following the killing of two terrorists.
Official sources informed The Web Story/The Varmul Post that security forces achieved a major breakthrough in the Gurez sector of Bandipora district by neutralizing two infiltrators.
Elaborating on this development, officials stated that a joint operation between the army and police resulted in the death of an individual who was not an ordinary militant. He was identified as Bagu Khan, alias ‘Samandar Chacha,’ regarded as one of the most prolific terrorist facilitators for over two decades.
According to sources, the notorious Bagu Khan, known by his alias ‘Samandar Chacha,’ was based in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Since 1995, he has been involved in facilitating over 100 infiltration attempts. His role was to guide terrorists across the border safely into Indian territory, a expertise that had long placed him high on the security forces’ most-wanted list.
Documents recovered from the infiltrators killed in the Gurez operation confirmed one of them to be Bagu Khan.
For years, joint teams of police and army personnel had been attempting to locate him, a task complicated by his intimate knowledge of the region’s difficult geography and clandestine trails. This expertise made him exceptionally skilled at evading capture while smuggling militants across the border.
His reputation among terrorist groups was so well-established that ‘Samandar Chacha’ was often the first point of contact for any militant seeking to infiltrate into the Kashmir Valley, officials stated.
Sources further emphasized that Bagu Khan’s death deals a critical blow to the logistical and guidance network supporting terrorism in the region.
Pertinently, The Gurez sector has long been a major infiltration route due to its rugged terrain of high mountains and dense forests. The harsh winters with heavy snowfall historically provided cover for infiltrators, which is why the area remains under strict surveillance and maintains a substantial security force presence.
In a statement earlier this week, security forces confirmed the killing of two infiltrators in Gurez, including ‘Samandar Chacha.’ The identity of the second individual remains unconfirmed.
