Early Times Report
Jammu, May 21: In a significant development amid a continuing wave of mysterious targeted killings of wanted terrorists in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), Hamza Burhan alias Arjumand Gulzar Dar, one of the key conspirators behind the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Muzaffarabad.
According to reports, Burhan, a self-styled terrorist commander originally hailing from Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, was found dead after being hit by multiple bullets fired by unknown assailants. No individual or organisation has so far claimed responsibility for the killing.
With Burhan’s elimination, the number of India’s most-wanted terrorists and terror operatives killed by unidentified attackers in Pakistan and PoJK over the past four years has risen to around 31, according to security assessments.
Burhan was among the principal accused in the planning and logistical coordination of the February 14, 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, one of the deadliest terror attacks on Indian security forces. The attack targeted a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, killing 40 personnel and drawing widespread international condemnation.
The Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had claimed responsibility for the attack and subsequently released a video featuring the suicide bomber, Adil Ahmed Dar.
In 2022, the Government of India designated Burhan as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Official records identified him as Arjumand Gulzar Dar alias Hamza Burhan alias Doctor, a resident of Kharbatpora, Ratnipora in Pulwama district and an associate of the banned terror outfit Al-Badr.
The Pulwama attack triggered global outrage, with the United Nations and several countries, including the United States, Russia, France, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, condemning the strike and expressing solidarity with India i In 2022, the Government of India designated Burhan as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Official records identified him as Arjumand Gulzar Dar alias Hamza Burhan alias Doctor, resident of Kharbatpora, Ratnipora in Pulwama district and an aide of the banned terror outfit Al-Badr.
Burhan’s killing is the latest in a series of targeted attacks against senior terrorists and operatives based in Pakistan and PoJK.
On April 28 this year, Sheikh Yousuf Afridi, a self-styled commander associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Investigators described the attack as a targeted assassination. Afridi was considered a close aide of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and was believed to play a key role in the outfit’s regional operations.
Earlier this year, Amir Hamza, a founding member of LeT, survived a gun attack by unidentified assailants in Lahore, making him the only known target among the recent victims to escape with his life.
Similarly, Muhammad Tahir Anwar, elder brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and a senior functionary of the terror outfit, died under mysterious circumstances in Pakistan. In March last year, Abu Qatal alias Qatal Sindhi, a senior LeT operative and close associate of Hafiz Saeed, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen. He was allegedly involved in several terror-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Security officials note that the frequency of such killings has increased markedly since 2023, with operatives linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed and other terrorist organisations being targeted in cities such as Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and various areas of PoJK.
Security analysts view the trend as a sustained pattern of targeted eliminations of individuals associated with terror networks operating from Pakistani soil. However, the identities of the attackers and the motives behind these assassinations remain shrouded in mystery.
The continuing series of killings has reportedly created unease within terror outfits and their support structures, as several high-profile operatives, handlers, recruiters and financiers have fallen victim to similar attacks across Pakistan and PoJK in recent years. |