In August 2003, DIG BSF N. N. D. Dubey led a daring operation in Srinagar that resulted in the elimination of Ghazi Baba, the Osama Bin Laden of India, mastermind behind the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001.
Despite being grievously injured—taking seven bullets, including one that remains lodged in his body—Dubey’s unwavering courage and leadership were instrumental in crippling the Jaish-e-Mohammed’s operations in India. His heroism earned him the Kirti Chakra -a ceremonial decoration for gallantry, courageous action and self-sacrifice. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Mahavir Chakra. His story stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of India’s security forces.
How would you describe Ghazi Baba, the top-ranking commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed and deputy commander of the Harkat-ul-Ansar militant group?
Ghazi Baba, also known as Tahir Nadeem Rana – a resident of Bahawalpur, Pakistan- was one of India’s most wanted terrorists, also known as Osama Bin Laden of India. He is known to have masterminded the attack on the Indian Parliament on 13 December 2001. He was declared a proclaimed offender by the POTA court for masterminding the attack. He received military training in Afghanistan in the 1980s, where he fought along with the forces of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar against Russian troops. This shaped his militant activities later on. He returned to Pakistan after the withdrawal of Russian forces and the collapse of the Najibullah regime. He went on to become a top-ranking commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed and deputy commander of Harkat-ul-Ansar and infiltrated into J&K to fill the vacuum in leadership.
Ghazi Baba played a significant role in militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir. After the arrest of Masood Azhar, the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation, Ghazi Baba rose to prominence in the organisation and led a series of violent incidents in India, like the attacks on the Parliament house in New Delhi and the J&K Assembly in Srinagar to assert Jaish-e-Mohammed’s presence on Indian soil.
I believe he was also involved in a blast at the Army headquarters in Srinagar and the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly car bombing. If we know so much about his organisation and its operations, why was it so difficult to arrest him?
This is because he chose very difficult heights and inhospitable terrain in South Kashmir for his hideout. He was very discreet in his activities and generally kept out of public sight. You will not find any photograph of him. He never trusted anyone so easily in Kashmir. Ghazi Baba’s ability to evade capture was because of his network or connections -sympathizers, informants, and fellow militants. Tactics – he employed various strategies to avoid detection such as frequent relocation and secure communication. Three -familiarity with terrain, he knew the region’s geography, which allowed him to hide easily and effectively. These factors made it difficult to track him down.
Ghazi Baba was born in Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan and married to a Kashmiri lady from Safapora village. He also had children and a family – why do you think such men forget about their families and become mad, fanatics when they think of jihad and start killing people they have never met and have nothing against them?
The transformation of Ghazi Baba from a family men to radical militants is a complex process influenced by a combination of personal, ideological, and socio-political factors.
Born in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, Ghazi Baba was deeply involved in militant activities. Despite being married to a Kashmiri woman and having children, he chose a path of violence driven by his commitment to jihadist ideology. His belief system was heavily influenced by the Deobandi school of thought, which emphasises a strict interpretation of Islam. This, combined with his experiences in conflict zones like Afghanistan during the 1980s, reinforced his radical views and commitment to militancy.
Individuals like Ghazi Baba often exhibit a strong sense of purpose and identity driven by their ideological beliefs. This can lead them to position their perceived religious duties above their personal relationships and societal commitments. The desire for martyrdom and the belief in a higher cause can overshadow familial bonds, leading to actions that seem incomprehensible to outsiders. The path to radicalisation is not linear and involves a complex interplay of personal convictions, ideological indoctrination, and socio-political contexts. Understanding these factors is crucial in addressing the root causes of extremism and preventing individuals from turning to violence.
The hard-core Jihadis are trained to believe in the false notion that they will lead a glorious life after martyrdom. Killings of innocents are never taboo to them – every non-believer is their enemy
Why did he wear three rings on his fingers, despite being an orthodox Muslim?
Ghazi Baba wore three different colour rings despite being a fundamentalist Muslim for protection. Maybe it was because of religious beliefs and superstitions. They deeply believe in stones.
In Islamic tradition, wearing rings is permissible, particularly silver ones. Prophet Muhammad himself wore a silver ring. However use of multiple rings, particularly those made of materials like gold, is generally discouraged for men. Ghazi Baba’s choice to wear multiple rings with coloured stones might have been at odds with orthodox Islamic teachings.
The symbolism associated with different fingers and stones varies across cultures and beliefs. For instance, certain stones are believed to provide protection. Ghazi Baba’s adherence to such beliefs, despite his fundamentalist stance, highlights the complex interplay between personal convictions and religious doctrines.
Who are these terrorists – heroes for their followers or the greatest cowards on earth?
The characterisation of terrorists as either heroes or cowards is deeply subjective and varies based on cultural, political, and personal perspectives. In some communities, individuals who commit acts of terrorism are viewed as martyrs or freedom fighters. They are often celebrated for their perceived sacrifices in the name of a cause, especially when they are seen as resisting oppression or defending their beliefs. Their followers idealise them as a role model.
On the other hand, for many people terrorists are cowards particularly because they have a weapon and use it to spread fear and shoot unarmed, defenceless civilians. This perspective emphasizes the selective nature of their violence and avoidance of direct confrontation with armed forces.
I think we should avoid labelling terrorists as heroes or cowards because it oversimplifies a complex issue.
Terrorists do not grow on a tree. Where else do they come from? What are the main stages in their life and how do they transact the business of terrorism?
Terrorists too are product of same society. Terrorists are not born; they emerge through complex processes influenced by personal, social, political, and psychological factors. Fathali M. Moghaddam’s “staircase to terrorism” provides a framework for understanding the gradual process by which individuals become involved in terrorist activities. The staircase model consists of six stages or steps towards committing acts of terrorism.
- Ground floor: Individuals experience discontent and frustration with their current circumstances.
- First floor: They begin to perceive options for addressing their grievances as limited.
- Second floor: Individuals start to feel a sense of moral justification for using violence.
- Third floor: They begin to see themselves as part of a larger group or movement.
- Fourth floor: Individuals solidify their commitment to the cause and begin to take action.
- Fifth floor: They engage in terrorist acts after identifying with the ideology and goals of the group.
Radicalisation is often a gradual process which involves several stages. Individuals may feel marginalised or perceive injustices against themselves or their communities. They link up their grievances and affiliations beyond national boundaries. This can lead them to undergo training and carry out acts of terrorism, often with the belief that such actions are morally justified.
Maulana Masood Azhar the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), who was designated as a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council was running the organisation as a family enterprise, with several close relatives occupying key positions.
Their indoctrination of such people starts from very early age of life. Most of them do not attend any school but go to Madrassas where they are indoctrinated from a very young age and trained for suicide mission. Their exposure to actual world is almost zero. There is no looking back once they start using guns and explosives. Their handlers don’t allow them to abandon it.
It is not as if all terrorists are uneducated. Many terrorists are highly educated. For instance Osama bin Laden held a degree in civil engineering from King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia. Anwar al-Awlaki held a Ph.D. in education from George Washington University, Cherif Kouachi one of the perpetrators of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, had a baccalauréat professionnel (vocational baccalaureate) in logistics, Mehdi Nemmouche – the perpetrator of the Brussels Jewish Museum attack, had a technical degree in electricity. These examples highlight the complex relationship between education and extremism. Several factors contribute to this phenomenon:
One highly educated individuals may become radicalized through exposure to extremist ideologies, often facilitated by social networks or online platforms. Two extremist groups often use sophisticated narratives that appeal to educated individuals seeking meaning, purpose, or a sense of belonging. Three educated individuals may feel disillusioned with societal injustices, perceived discrimination, or political repression, making them more susceptible to extremist ideologies. Four terrorist organizations may target educated individuals for their skills, knowledge, or influence, which can be leveraged for operational purposes.
Don’t you think terrorism is like any other business where you have to manage everything from procuring arms and ammunition, training, recruitment, motivation and morale boosting and arranging the finance?
Yes, terrorism also needs to be nurtured and managed like any other business enterprise. The first and foremost requirement is funds. Like any other business establishment terrorist groups too need to beg, borrow or steal money to sustain their operations and deal with illicit arms dealers and smuggles to procure weapons, explosives, and other equipment. For instance Hezbollah is involved in drug trafficking and money laundering to finance its activities.
The next big requirement is recruitment and training new members in combat skills and motivate them ideologically. To maintain high morale within the cadres and justify their own actions terrorist groups produce propaganda materials, including videos and publications, to justify their cause, and intimidate adversaries. Such material is then disseminated through various online platforms and social media.
Some terrorist groups have hierarchical structures like big corporations. They have strategic planners who make plans while the operational units execute the missions and suicide attacks. The support teams handle logistics, finance, and communications. This division of labour ensures compartmentalization and reduces the risk of organizational collapse if one segment is compromised.
Can you briefly yell us about the key moments of the operation that led to the elimination of Ghazi Baba? What were the turning points?
It was a meticulously planned and executed operation by the Border Security Force (BSF) in August 2003 and proved to be a turning point in India’s counter-terrorism efforts.
The BSF’s success began with the capture of Dy Chief Ansar Bhai Pakistani during a routine patrol. His interrogation led us to a carpenter who had constructed hideouts for the militants. Though initially the terrorists had blindfolded him, he was able to identify the house in Srinagar’s Dana Mazaar area being used as a hideout. We immediately put the house under surveillance and intercepted the wireless communications, which confirmed Ghazi Baba’s presence in the house.
In the early hours of August 30, 2003, the BSF cordoned off the area and approached the house. The militants inside opened fire and hurled grenades, leading to a fierce gun battle that lasted ten hours.
During the search, BSF Assistant Commandant Binu Chandran noticed an oddly placed dressing table. On probing further he discovered a secret door leading to a room where Ghazi Baba was hiding. As soon as the door opened, the militants inside unleashed a volley of gunfire in which as BSF jawan was killed and seven others was injured including Binu Chandran and C. P. Trivedi. To prevent any chance of Ghazi Baba’s escape, the BSF decided to demolish the house. Ghazi Baba and two other militants were killed in the explosion and the BSF recovered arms, explosives, RDX, grenades.
Elimination of Ghazi Baba was a serious blow to Jaish-e-Mohammed’s operations in J&K and disrupted its leadership structure and operational capabilities. The operation also showcased the effectiveness of coordinated intelligence gathering and tactical execution in counter-terrorism efforts.
Given the high-profile nature of Ghazi Baba, what kind of intelligence coordination and strategic planning went into this mission?
The operation showcased the importance of intelligence, coordination and strategic planning. The BSF’s intelligence wing, known as the ‘G branch,’ played a pivotal role in gathering actionable intelligence. This grassroots intelligence helped us identify Ghazi Baba’s hideout in Srinagar’s Dana Mazaar area.
Intercepted wireless communications confirmed Ghazi Baba’s presence in the location. Given Ghazi Baba’s notoriety, the BSF decided to act swiftly and cordoned off the area leading to a prolonged gun battle with militants inside the house using heavy gunfire and grenades.
The BSF operations team moved with lightning speed in odd hours resulting in trapping Ghazi Baba in his den. This was the cause of our success.
(To be continued)
