Hamza Burhan Killed in PoK: Alleged Pulwama Attack Mastermind Shot Dead
- By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
- May 21, 2026
- 468
Hamza Burhan, a Pakistan-based terrorist linked to the deadly 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to reports, gunmen opened fire on him outside AIMS College, killing him on the spot.
Hamza Burhan, also known as Arjumand Gulzar Dar and “Doctor,” was designated as a terrorist by the Government of India under the UAPA in 2022. He was associated with the banned terror outfit Al-Badr and was considered one of the key conspirators behind the Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans.
For more updates on Jammu and Kashmir security developments, readers can follow Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Who Was Hamza Burhan?
According to Indian security agencies, Hamza Burhan was originally from Ratnipora in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. He reportedly traveled legally to Pakistan before joining Al-Badr and later becoming an active commander within the terror organization.
Investigators alleged that he was involved in:
- Terror recruitment in Kashmir
- Radicalisation of youth through online propaganda
- Terror funding and weapons supply
- Grenade attacks on CRPF personnel
- Expanding Al-Badr operations in Jammu and Kashmir
Officials claimed he played a significant role in strengthening terror infrastructure in Kashmir since 2020.
For more information on anti-terror investigations in India, visit National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Hamza Burhan’s Links With Top Militants
Hamza Burhan was believed to be closely associated with several notorious militants, including:
- Abu Dujana
- Abu Qasim
- Burhan Wani
- Zakir Musa
Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with Indian security forces in July 2016, sparking widespread unrest in Kashmir. Zakir Musa later emerged as a major militant commander before being killed in Pulwama in 2019.
Pulwama Terror Attack: 40 CRPF Personnel Martyred
The Pulwama terror attack took place on February 14, 2019, in the Lethpora area on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
A suicide bomber identified as Adil Ahmed Dar rammed an explosives-laden SUV into a CRPF convoy, triggering a massive explosion that destroyed two buses and killed 40 CRPF personnel.
The National Investigation Agency later named Jaish-e-Mohammed and its chief Masood Azhar as masterminds behind the Pulwama terror attack.
Four Pakistani Terror Operatives Killed in Four Months
Several Pakistan-based terror operatives linked to banned militant organisations have reportedly died under mysterious circumstances in recent months.
1. Mohammad Qasim Gujjar
Mohammad Qasim Gujjar, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, was reportedly shot dead in Peshawar in February 2026. Indian agencies accused him of weapons smuggling, terror funding, and recruitment operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
2. Salman Azhar
Senior Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Salman Azhar reportedly died in Bahawalpur in April 2026. Media reports described the incident as either a hit-and-run or a targeted killing.
3. Sheikh Yusuf Afridi
Sheikh Yusuf Afridi was reportedly killed by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region in April 2026.
4. Sajjad Ahmed
Sajjad Ahmed was reportedly killed in Islamabad in May 2026. Reports claimed he coordinated terror funding and militant activities in Kashmir from Pakistan.