Emraan Hashmi's film Ground Zero will hit the screens on 25th April. It is a movie that brings to life one of the most significant operations carried out by India's Border Security Force (BSF); the daring mission that led to the killing of Jaish-e-Mohammed's notorious commander, Ghazi Baba.

Who is Ghazi baba?

Ghazi Baba, a.k.a Rana Tahir Nadeem, was born in Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan, to an Urdu-speaking Muslim family. His father's name was Rana Talib Hussain.

He completed his schooling in Bahawalpur. Ghazi Baba was proficient in English and Urdu. He was married to Franky, a Kashmiri woman from Safapora village, and had children with her.

In the 1980s, Ghazi Baba joined the Afghan Jihad against Soviet Armed Forces as part of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's group. After the withdrawal of Russian forces, he returned to Pakistan and joined Harkat-ul-Ansar, an Islamic militant group operating in Kashmir.

Then he became a top-ranking commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed and deputy commander of Harkat-ul-Ansar. He's notorious for masterminding several terrorist attacks, including - 2001 Indian Parliament Attack, car Bombings in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Car Bombing.

The Operation to kill Ghazi baba

The operation that killed Ghazi Baba was a calculated mission led by Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, a BSF officer.

In July 2003, during Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Kashmir, a Pakistani terrorist named Ansar Bhai was caught by BSF jawans in Srinagar. Ansar revealed he worked for Jaish-e-Mohammed and communicated with Ghazi Baba twice daily over a wireless set. He also disclosed information about a carpenter who made hideouts for Jaish terrorists.

The carpenter, who was blindfolded during his interactions with Ghazi Baba, remembered the location of one such hideout in Noorbagh, Srinagar.

On August 2003, Dubey and his team surrounded the house and raided the third floor at 4:10 am. A secret entrance behind a mirror was discovered, leading to a massive blast and intense gunfire.

Ghazi Baba died in the crossfire, marking a significant victory for Indian forces and a devastating blow to Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Two BSF personnel, including Balbir Singh, lost their lives in the operation, and Dubey lost his fingers and hand. The operation showcased the bravery and intelligence work of the BSF but also highlighted the ongoing challenge of combating terrorism in the region.

The film Ground Zero narrates the real-life story of how Indian security forces relentlessly hunted down Ghazi Baba. While the core of the story is about patriotism and sacrifice, it also shows the psychological toll of such high-pressure jobs.