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LeT commander used honey to treat bullet wounds in J&K
Officials report LeT commander Hashim Moosa used Ayurvedic honey to treat bullet wounds while hiding in Jammu and Kashmir forests. His injuries were documented and sent to handlers in Pakistan.
At a glance
Why it matters
The use of Ayurvedic honey by a high-profile terrorist highlights the intersection of traditional medicine and modern conflict, raising questions about the accessibility of medical resources in conflict zones and the potential of natural remedies in survival scenarios.
Key facts
- LeT commander Hashim Moosa used honey to treat bullet wounds while hiding in Jammu and Kashmir forests.
- Moosa was killed in a high-altitude operation in Yousmarg, Budgam, earlier this week.
- Photographs of his honey-treated injuries were sent to handlers in Pakistan.
- Medical experts noted honey's traditional and modern wound-healing properties.
- Moosa was involved in over a dozen terror attacks, including the 2025 Pahalgam massacre.
What happens next
The next known date is the official release of the full report on the operation and the handling of Moosa's remains, expected by the end of October 2024.
Officials confirmed that LeT commander Mohammad Asif, known as Hashim Moosa, used pure honey to treat bullet wounds while hiding in the forests of Jammu and Kashmir. Moosa, described as one of the masterminds of the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, was killed in a high-altitude operation in Yousmarg, Budgam, earlier this week. The injury was sustained during an encounter in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla area of Rajouri during 'Operation Sheruwali'.
The operation, which lasted over 45 days, was aimed at locating Moosa and his associate Yasir, who were hiding in the Poonch-Rajouri forests. Unable to access medical care due to the security cordon, Moosa allegedly applied honey to his wounds. Photographs of his honey-treated injuries were recovered from Yasir’s phone after he was killed in Yousmarg in September. These images were reportedly sent to handlers in Pakistan, who instructed that pure honey be arranged for Moosa’s recovery.
Medical experts noted that honey has long been used in Ayurvedic practices for its wound-healing properties. Dr R P Parasher, President of the All India Doctors Association of Indian System of Medicine, explained that honey is central to 'Vrana Chikitsa' (wound care) in Ayurveda due to its 'Shodhana' (purifying) and 'Ropana' (healing) properties. Modern research supports these traditional uses, with honey’s high osmotic activity, acidic pH, and antimicrobial constituents helping to inhibit microbial growth and support a favorable wound environment.
Dr Jahanzeb Sirwal, a veterinary expert, added that honey acts as an osmotic agent, drawing fluid away from the wound bed, aiding debridement of dead tissue, and reducing inflammation. He noted that honey can stimulate immune responses and trigger tissue repair cascades, making it effective even where standard treatments face challenges. However, he cautioned that in cases of gunshot wounds, thorough cleaning is essential to prevent secondary infections, and sterile medical-grade honey is recommended for clinical use.
Moosa was directly involved in over a dozen major terror strikes against security personnel and civilians. He orchestrated the April 2023 Bhatta Duriyan ambush in Poonch, where five soldiers were killed, followed by the May 2023 Kandi forest blast in Rajouri that claimed five commandos. In December 2023, he led the Dera Ki Gali ambush in Poonch, resulting in four military deaths, and later targeted an Indian Air Force convoy near Shasitar in May 2024, killing one airman. By late autumn 2024, Moosa shifted focus toward non-combatants and critical infrastructure, carrying out the October 20 attack on a construction camp at the Gagangir tunnel project in Ganderbal that killed seven people, including a local physician. Just four days later, his module ambushed an Army vehicle in Butapathri, killing two soldiers and two civilian defence porters.