Pulwama Attack Mastermind Hamza Burhan Reportedly Shot Dead in PoK by Unknown Gunmen
News Desk: Hamza Burhan, one of the alleged masterminds behind the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, has reportedly been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to media reports.
Reports claim Burhan was attacked in Muzaffarabad, where unknown assailants allegedly opened fire on him multiple times. While there has been no official confirmation from Pakistani authorities, Indian media reports suggest the suspected terror operative succumbed to his injuries after the attack.
Burhan had been designated as a terrorist by the Indian government in 2022 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Security agencies had linked him to Pakistan-backed terror operations and the broader conspiracy surrounding the Pulwama suicide bombing.
Pulwama Attack Conspirator Hamza Burhan Shot Dead by Unidentified Gunmen in Pakistan-Occupied KashmirOne of the key figures linked to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, Hamza Burhan (real name: Arjumand Gulzar Dar alias ‘Doctor’), was killed on Thursday in #Muzaffarabad,… pic.twitter.com/NJ4R92a04U
— Mahalaxmi Ramanathan (@MahalaxmiRaman) May 21, 2026
Pulwama Attack That Shocked India
The Pulwama terror attack on February 14, 2019, remains one of the deadliest attacks on Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. A suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of CRPF personnel near Lethapora in Pulwama district, killing 40 jawans.
The attacker, Adil Ahmad Dar, was associated with Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The attack triggered nationwide outrage and intensified India’s focus on cross-border terrorism and terror infrastructure operating from Pakistan and PoK.
Balakot Airstrike Marked Strategic Shift
In response to the Pulwama attack, India carried out airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Balakot, located deep inside Pakistani territory.
The operation was widely seen as a turning point in India’s counter-terror doctrine, marking the first time since 1971 that Indian fighter jets crossed the Line of Control for a direct offensive strike on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan.
The Balakot airstrike significantly escalated tensions between India and Pakistan and reshaped regional security dynamics in South Asia.
Questions Over Killing
The identity and motive of the attackers behind Burhan’s reported killing remain unknown. The incident has sparked speculation in security circles, particularly amid a series of mysterious attacks targeting individuals allegedly linked to terror networks operating from Pakistan and PoK.
No group has claimed responsibility for the shooting so far.
