Pulwama attack mastermind Hamza Burhan shot dead in Pakistan

Hamza Burhan, one of the alleged masterminds of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Thursday. Burhan, also known as “Doctor”, sustained multiple bullet injuries in the attack. He was a resident of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir and had been designated a terrorist by the Union Home Ministry in 2022 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

According to available information, Burhan had left Jammu and Kashmir for Pakistan in 2017 under the pretext of pursuing higher studies. He later joined the banned terror outfit Al-Badr and rose to the position of commander within the organisation. Investigative agencies had linked him to terror recruitment activities and multiple anti-India operations. He was also identified as Arjumand Gulzar Dar in official records.

The February 14, 2019 Pulwama attack remains one of the deadliest terror strikes on Indian security personnel. In the attack, a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy at Lethpora in Pulwama district, killing 40 personnel. Indian authorities had linked several Pakistan-based terror operatives and handlers to the conspiracy behind the attack.

Reports stated that Burhan had been under the radar of security agencies for several years. He was allegedly associated with Pakistan-based terror networks and was believed to have played a role in operational planning linked to attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Separate reports also claimed that he had been serving at the Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences in Muzaffarabad at the time of the shooting.

Following the attack on Burhan, security was increased in parts of Muzaffarabad. Authorities have not officially identified the attackers or disclosed the motive behind the killing. The incident comes amid a series of attacks in recent years targeting individuals linked to extremist and terror networks operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.