Pulwama attack accused Hamza Burhan shot dead by unidentified gunmen in PoK

A fresh wave of mystery now surrounds Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after gunmen shot dead Hamza Burhan, one of the key accused linked to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. The killing took place in Muzaffarabad, where locals reported heavy movement soon after the attack. However, officials have not revealed the identity of the shooters yet.

Hamza Burhan, also known as “Doctor”, suffered multiple bullet injuries during the attack. Reports from the area claimed armed men intercepted him before opening fire at close range. Soon after the incident, security circles across the region began discussing another high-profile killing involving a wanted militant figure.

Born as Arjumand Gulzar Dar in Pulwama’s Ratnipora area, Burhan left Kashmir in 2017. At that time, he reportedly told family members that he planned to continue higher studies in Pakistan. Instead, he crossed over and joined the banned terror outfit Al-Badr. Over the next few years, he emerged as an influential commander and recruiter.

Later, Burhan returned to Kashmir and expanded his network across South Kashmir districts, especially Pulwama and Shopian. Several local families earlier recalled how young men who interacted with him gradually moved toward militancy. Investigators also linked him to radicalisation efforts and underground recruitment activities in the Valley.

Indian agencies named Burhan among the main conspirators in the Pulwama terror strike on February 14, 2019. That attack killed 40 CRPF personnel after a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-filled vehicle into a convoy at Lethpora in Pulwama district. The incident triggered nationwide outrage and sharply escalated tensions between India and Pakistan.

Soon after the attack, the Indian Air Force carried out airstrikes on Balakot, targeting terror infrastructure across the border. The operation marked one of the most significant military escalations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in recent years.

Investigators later claimed Burhan arranged explosives and logistical support for the Pulwama attackers. Agencies also connected him to grenade attacks on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Although security teams launched repeated operations to capture him, he managed to escape back into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Burhan’s death now adds another chapter to a growing series of mysterious killings involving wanted terrorists in Pakistan and PoK. Over the past three years, several senior figures linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen have died in targeted shootings or unexplained incidents.

Residents in parts of Lahore, Jhelum and Muzaffarabad often describe a similar pattern after such attacks. Gunmen arrive quickly, fire within seconds and disappear before local authorities react. Consequently, fear and speculation continue to spread inside militant networks operating across the region.

Although officials in Pakistan rarely disclose details publicly, these repeated incidents have raised serious concerns over internal security failures, rival faction clashes and covert operations targeting terror figures hiding across the border.