On 20 August 2003, Gakayev killed Shaiman Madagov, Imam of the Vedeno district, for "cooperating with the Russian state." Gakayev was also reportedly a part of the 2004 Nazran raid commanded by Basayev, an assault which killed over sixty people and resulted in the capture of virtually the entire weapons cache of Ingushetia's police force. The operation is considered a milestone in Gakayev's career and helped propel him from the ranks of everyday militants into the upper tier of rebel leadership. It was at this point that Russian sources began to associate him with many similar operations in the region.