‘Human GPS’ Bagu Khan among 2 terrorists killed in Gurez gunfight

Two days after two infiltrators were killed in a gunfight with security forces in north Kashmir’s Gurez sector, one of the deceased has been identified as Bagu Khan, a key figure who had been acting as a “human GPS” for terrorists infiltrating Indian territory through the Line of Control (LoC) in the region.

According to the Army, the encounter took place in the Naushehra Nar area of Gurez in Bandipora district after security forces launched an operation based on intelligence inputs provided by J&K Police about a potential infiltration attempt.

Sources confirmed that two militants were killed in the firefight. While one of them remains unidentified, the other has been identified as Bagu Khan. Documents recovered from him revealed an address in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). However, sources clarified that Khan originally hailed from the Malangam area in Bandipora district and crossed the border for arms training in 1995, shortly after militancy broke out in the Valley. He later infiltrated into Kashmir again.

Khan was reportedly first associated with Hizbul Mujahideen and later joined another militant group. Over the years, he became a crucial figure for terror outfits, using his knowledge of the region to guide infiltrators into Kashmir.

“He became an expert in the area and helped militants cross the border. Due to his familiarity with the terrain and infiltration routes, Khan acted as a human GPS for the terror groups,” an official stated.

On Thursday, security forces had received credible intelligence that an infiltration attempt was imminent in the sector. “Our joint teams were on high alert and neutralised the infiltrators as soon as they crossed into our territory,” a security official said, describing the operation as a significant success.

The Gurez sector, known for its dense forests and rugged terrain, has long been a traditional infiltration route into India, linking the region to Kupwara district—another area notorious for militant infiltration attempts. Once militants manage to enter through Gurez, they can travel further into north and central Kashmir, often using the dense forests as cover.