Hamza Burhan, one of the key conspirators linked to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was shot dead by unidentified gun-wielding men in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Thursday, sources said. Burhan, who had been designated a terrorist by the Indian government, was shot at outside AIMS College in Muzaffarabad, where he sustained numerous bullet wounds, and eventually succumbed to them.
Hamza Burhan (Left)
Motive behind killing unclear
Sources familiar with the development said that the attack unfolded in PoK’s Muzaffarabad regions when unidentified assailants opened fire on Burhan near the educational institution. As of now, the identity of the attackers and the motive behind Burhan’s killing have not been established, but the incident has drawn attention due to his alleged involvement in terror activities linked to Jammu and Kashmir.
No organisation or outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
Centre declared Burhan a terrorist in 2022
It is noteworthy that Hamza, also known by names such as Arjumand Gulzar Dar and ‘Doctor,’ had officially been designated as a terrorist by the Union Government in 2022 under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
In its official notification, the Centre identified him as a resident of Kharbatpora in Pulwama district’s Ratnipora area and termed him ‘an associate member of the banned terror outfit Al-Badr.’ India’s security agencies had alleged that Burhan played a key role in terror recruitment and radicalisation activities in South Kashmir.
Pulwama attack details
Notably, the Pulwama attack took place in February 2019, when Adeel Ahmed Dar, a terrorist linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, rammed a vehicle laden with explosives into a convoy of the CRPF personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Lethpora in Pulwama district.
A picture from the aftermath of Pulwama attack
40 CRPF jawans were martyred in the suicide bombing, which triggered nationwide outrage. In retaliation, the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes in Balakot, Pakistan, which led to escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.