Hamza Burhan, Linked to 2019 Pulwama Attack, Killed in Muzaffarabad: Reports

According to media reports that surfaced on Thursday, 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). Hamza Burhan, also known as Arjumand Gulzar Dar, was reportedly an Al-Badr militant commander and originally belonged to Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports claimed that he was killed under mysterious circumstances in Muzaffarabad, where unidentified attackers allegedly opened fire on him. The 2019 Pulwama attack had claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. The attack took place when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, significantly escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Several media organisations have reported the killing. However, there has been no official confirmation from Indian security agencies or Pakistani authorities regarding the incident or the identity of the attackers so far. The incident comes amid a series of attacks in recent years targeting wanted militants and commanders residing in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.