Key Figure in Pulwama Attack Killed in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir
Details of the Incident
Hamza Burhan, who is believed to be a significant conspirator in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack that resulted in the deaths of over 40 CRPF personnel, was reportedly shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Muzaffarabad, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), on Thursday. The following day, several wanted terrorists based in Pakistan, including Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin and Al-Badr chief Bakht Zameen Khan, were present at Burhan’s funeral prayers in Islamabad. The gathering also included officials associated with Pakistan's ISI, highlighting the high-profile nature of the event.
Security measures were notably stringent around the funeral, particularly for Bakht Zameen Khan, with heavily armed terrorists carrying AK-47 rifles and other advanced weaponry present. Sources indicate that the heightened security was a response to concerns over potential attacks by unidentified assailants, especially in light of recent targeted killings of terrorists in both Pakistan and PoK.
Background on Hamza Burhan
Who Was Hamza Burhan?
Burhan, also known as Arjumand Gulzar Dar and referred to by the codename 'Doctor', was reportedly one of the key figures behind the Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in February 2019. As the commander of the Al Badr terror group, he was designated a terrorist by India in April 2022 due to his involvement in various terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
A native of Ratnipora in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, Burhan later moved to Pakistan where he joined the Al-Badr organization. He was instrumental in radicalizing local youth, recruiting new operatives, and financing the group's operations from Pakistan. For the past few years, Burhan had been living covertly in PoK, working as the principal of a private college in Muzaffarabad. He was shot multiple times in the head by unknown assailants when he exited the college premises on Thursday morning.