Hamza Burhan: The Pulwama Mastermind Pakistan Who Hid as a School Principal Shot Dead

Arjumand Gulzar Dar, widely known by his alias Hamza Burhan, was not easy to find. Pakistan's ISI had concealed him as the principal of a higher secondary school in Gojra, Muzaffarabad, while he continued operating as one of India's most wanted terrorists. That cover ended on Thursday when bike-borne gunmen fired multiple rounds at him outside the school, killing him with three shots to the head. His elimination is the latest in a growing pattern of targeted killings striking high-value terrorists sheltered in Pakistan and POK.

Who Was Hamza Burhan?

Hamza Burhan was a 27-year-old Al-Badr commander born in Pulwama's Ratnipora area. He allegedly held an MBBS degree, earning him the operational moniker "Doctor." In 2017, he left India under the pretext of pursuing higher studies, crossed into Pakistan, and joined the banned organisation Al-Badr, rising rapidly through its ranks due to his tactical acumen and formal education.

What Was His Role in the Pulwama Terror Attack?

Burhan was a key attack mastermind behind the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, in which a Jaish-e-Mohammed operative rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, killing 40 personnel. He facilitated the critical supply of explosives and grenades and helped map both the route and the date of the strike.

How Extensive Was His Terror Network?

Burhan controlled at least seven terror launchpads and maintained AK-47-wielding men as personal security. He coordinated funding, weapon smuggling, and explosive distribution networks, and was directly linked to a grenade attack on a CRPF bunker in Pulwama in November 2020.

Was He Also Running a Propaganda Operation?

Yes. Beyond logistics, Burhan circulated radical propaganda videos from as early as 2018, according to Times of India, specifically aimed at radicalising and recruiting Kashmiri youth.

Why Was He Formally Designated a Terrorist?

In April 2022, India's Ministry of Home Affairs designated Burhan an individual terrorist under UAPA after establishing his direct role in orchestrating the Pulwama attack. Indian intelligence reportedly regarded him as a "master plotter" proficient in modern weaponry and logistics.

Who Killed Him and Why?

The killers remain unidentified. According to Times of India, local sources suspect hitmen familiar with the area carried out the killing over a monetary dispute on May 21. The incident fits a series of mysterious drive-by killings targeting high-value terrorists sheltered across Pakistan and POK. The police have arrested a suspect and recovered a weapon used in the attack, as per The Hindu.

Hamza Burhan's killing closes one chapter in the long, unresolved story of the Pulwama terror attack, while raising uncomfortable questions about the durability of the protection Pakistan has long extended to wanted operatives.

(With inputs from yMedia)