The killing of Hamza Burhan, also known as Arjumand Gulzar Dar, in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir has significantly impacted the propaganda efforts of Al Badr and Jaish-e-Mohammad in Jammu and Kashmir. These Pakistan-backed groups have been actively engaging in propaganda activities to radicalize locals in the region. Poster campaigns, alongside online propaganda, have been a key strategy for these groups to spread their message in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hamza, designated a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by the Union Home Ministry in 2022, was known for his expertise in creating and distributing propaganda posters in the region. He played a crucial role in encouraging locals to prepare and display posters advocating for the groups’ ideologies. His death has dealt a significant setback to the propaganda efforts of these terror groups, particularly at a time when they were intensifying their online and poster-based campaigns.
Apart from Al Badr and Jaish-e-Mohammad, other groups like Hizbul Mujahideen and The Resistance Front have also utilized poster campaigns to radicalize youth and spread their narratives. Hamza’s involvement in various propaganda activities, including calls for boycotts and threats against civilians, highlights the dangerous influence of such campaigns on vulnerable populations. His demise marks a blow to the narrative warfare plans of these terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir.
