Pulwama Mastermind Shot Dead by Unknown Gunmen in PoK

In a major development, Hamza Burhan, the mastermind of the Pulwama terror attack, was gunned down in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The 23-year-old from Ratnipora, Pulwama, who also went by the alias 'Doctor', was killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire on him. His death represents a serious setback for Al-Badr and other Pakistan-based terror organizations. Hamza had traveled to Pakistan in 2017 under the pretext of studies. Once there, he became deeply involved with the banned Al-Badr group and was soon elevated to a leadership position. Upon returning to Kashmir, he focused on recruiting and radicalizing young men, building a strong operational network in south Kashmir districts. The Indian government officially declared him a terrorist in 2022. Since then, his activities were closely monitored by security agencies. Recent years have witnessed a rise in targeted killings of senior terrorists inside Pakistan, with authorities maintaining silence over these incidents. The trend has gained momentum after Operation Sindoor, leaving terror groups struggling to regroup and plan attacks. The Pulwama attack on 14 February 2019 saw a suicide bomber target a CRPF convoy, resulting in 40 casualties. This prompted India to carry out surgical strikes at Balakot. The latest killing of Hamza Burhan adds to the growing list of high-profile terror figures eliminated in Pakistan, further weakening their command structures.