Burhan Hamza, Alleged Pulwama Attack Mastermind, Killed in PoK Ambush

A key figure accused of masterminding the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir has reportedly been killed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to news agency PTI, Arjumand Gulzar, also known by his alias Burhan Hamza, was shot by unidentified assailants in Muzaffarabad, dealing a significant blow to terrorist networks linked to anti-India operations.

Officials quoted in the report said that Hamza, who was allegedly living under strict security arrangements vetted by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was ambushed in Muzaffarabad. The attack reportedly left him critically injured. He was later airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalpindi, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Sources told PTI that Hamza had been residing under the alias “Doctor” in Cheela Bandi, a densely populated locality on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad. Reports suggested that he enjoyed extensive security cover, including eight commandos, a bullet-resistant vehicle, and an escort car, indicating his importance within militant circles and the protection allegedly provided to him.

Hamza originally hailed from Khar in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Over the years, he was reportedly associated with terror outfits such as Al Badr before moving to Al Barq. He was also said to have maintained close links with Pakistan’s ISI following his exit from earlier militant groups.

He was declared a designated terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his alleged role in planning the February 14, 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent history. The attack targeted a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Pulwama and resulted in the deaths of 40 personnel. The bombing was carried out by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), triggering widespread outrage across India.

The Pulwama attack marked a turning point in India-Pakistan relations and led to heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. In response, Indian security forces launched a major retaliatory operation on February 26, 2019, when Indian Air Force jets struck what India described as Jaish-e-Mohammad’s largest training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan.

Hamza’s reported killing in Muzaffarabad has once again brought attention to the network of terror operatives believed to be functioning from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The circumstances surrounding the ambush and the identity of the attackers remain unclear, but his death is being seen as a significant development in the broader fight against terrorism linked to the Pulwama attack.