Pakistan CTD Arrests Suspect in Killing of Pulwama Attack Accused Hamza Burhan

Punjab Newsline | Islamabad

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Muzaffarabad has arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of Hamza Burhan, an accused linked to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.

According to reports, the arrested accused has been identified as Abdullah Kamal, a resident of Wah Cantt in Pakistan. CTD officials have taken him into custody and begun questioning him regarding the murder case.

During the operation, security officials also recovered a weapon from the accused. Investigating agencies are now trying to determine whether the same weapon was used in the killing.

Reports further stated that two other suspects present at the scene managed to flee. Security agencies have launched a search operation to trace them. An exclusive photograph of accused Abdullah Kamal has also surfaced online.

Hamza Burhan, also known as Arjumand Gulzar Dar alias Doctor, was allegedly associated with the banned terror outfit Al Badr. He was a resident of Ratnipora in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir and was reportedly buried at Fatima School in Islamabad’s Burma Town on Thursday.

Investigators said the 23-year-old had legally travelled to Pakistan before joining Al Badr, where he later became an active militant and commander. He was allegedly involved in recruiting youth into the organisation and arranging funding for terror activities from Pakistan.

Security agencies also linked him to several terror-related activities, including a grenade attack on CRPF personnel in 2020 and recruitment drives for militant organisations.

Hamza Burhan was allegedly involved in the February 14, 2019 Pulwama terror attack, one of the deadliest attacks on Indian security forces. In the attack, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden SUV into a CRPF convoy near Lethpora on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, killing 40 personnel.

Hamza was also accused of involvement in the November 18, 2020 grenade attack in Kakapora area of Pulwama district. In that incident, the grenade missed its intended target and exploded on the road, injuring 12 civilians.