In an ongoing series of mysterious hits targeting high-profile terrorists, a prominent operational chief of the banned terror outfit Al-Badr has been eliminated in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Arjamand Gulzar, who went by the alias Burhan Hamza, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Muzaffarabad. He was heavily sought after by Indian security agencies for running an extensive terror network across Jammu and Kashmir.

According to security confirmations, Hamza played an active role in driving anti-India activities and was heavily involved in radicalising local youths, primarily across South Kashmir. His death marks another critical disruption for outfits attempting to reactivate cross-border terror channels into the Valley.

From Pulwama to the operational ranks of Al-Badr

A native of Ratnipora village located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, Gulzar crossed over to Pakistan around seven years ago, where he subsequently aligned himself with the Al-Badr group. Over the years, he quickly scaled the ranks to become its core operational commander, steering logistics that included recruitment, financial streams, and smuggling weapon consignments into Kashmir.

Recognising the severe security threat he posed, the Ministry of Home Affairs had officially designated him as a terrorist in 2022. He was placed prominently on the most-wanted lists due to his sustained orchestrations of violence in Pulwama and neighbouring south Kashmir areas.

Orchestrator of digital radicalisation

Security officials highlighted that Gulzar operated much like previous neutralised figures such as Burhan Wani, heavily leaning on digital radicalisation. He exploited social media ecosystems and localized networks to pull impressionable youth into terror folds.

His operations spanned strategically sensitive zones including Pulwama, Awantipora, and Shopian. Operating securely from bases across the border, he synchronized actions with ground-level overground workers (OGWs) to distribute finances, transfer operational commands, and channel arms. Investigators had previously tied his name to multiple security offenses involving grenade offensives, terror recruitment drives, and explosive cache recoveries.

Ongoing wave of targeted hits on terror leaders

Media reports state that this assassination adds to a broader pattern observed since 2023, where more than 50 elite commanders affiliated with prominent terror factions like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen have been systematically gunned down by unknown attackers across Pakistan and PoJK.

Just last month, a notable Lashkar-e-Taiba commander identified as Sheikh Yousuf Afridi—who shared close operational ties with Hafiz Saeed—was shot dead by mystery gunmen who fired multiple rounds at him in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Prior to that incident in March, another key LeT founding figure, Amir Hamza, survived an assassination attempt when an unidentified gunman fired at him outside a television station in Lahore.

The central government has initiated a collaborative effort with major social media giants, including Meta, Google, and Telegram, to counter the spread of misinformation and secure the upcoming NEET-UG re-examination. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a high-level review meeting alongside central security and intelligence agencies to establish a foolproof security framework for the medical entrance test.

During the discussions, authorities raised serious concerns over the proliferation of fake paper-leak claims, clickbait content, and unverified information circulated via anonymous online groups and automated bots. Inputs from intelligence agencies revealed that multiple suspicious channels operate through a restricted set of phone numbers, pointing toward a coordinated effort to create panic among students and parents.

Focused crackdown on fraudulent networks

To address these vulnerabilities early, the Union Education Minister directed law enforcement and tech platforms to proactively identify, block, and take down channels spreading propaganda before the examination commences. The minister emphasized that social media platforms must work in sync with the Ministry of Education, the National Testing Agency (NTA), and security agencies to safeguard candidates from misleading narratives.

The high-level meeting, which included the director general of the NTA and senior ministry officials, aimed to map out potential security risks in advance to deploy preventive and corrective measures. Maintaining public trust in the examination process remains a top government priority.

The development follows the recent cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 exam originally held on May 3, which is currently being investigated by the CBI over paper-leak allegations. The re-test is officially scheduled to take place on June 21.

In a major political development, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay is expanding his Council of Ministers today by inducting 23 new MLAs. The expansion reflects a significant consolidation of the ruling alliance, bringing representation from key partner parties into the government.

Diverse representation in the new team

The incoming cohort of ministers consists of 21 lawmakers from Chief Minister Vijay’s party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), alongside 2 legislators from the allied Congress party. Media reports indicate that the expansion aims to reinforce unity among alliance partners, with further representation expected for other regional allies to balance regional and political administration. The official swearing-in ceremony for all 23 nominees is scheduled to take place today in Chennai.