Honey for bullet wounds: Lashkar commander turns to Ayurvedic remedy in J&K

Officials said Lashkar commander Hashim Moosa used pure honey on bullet wounds while hiding in Jammu and Kashmir's forests.Lashkar terrorist Hashim Musa used honey to treat bullet wound (Photo: ITG)A top Pakistani terrorist and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, believed to be a former commando of the Pakistan Army's elite Special Services Group (SSG), used pure honey to treat bullet wounds while hiding in the forests of Jammu and Kashmir, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.Mohd Asif, also known as Hashim Moosa, was the chief operational commander of the banned LeT in the region and one of the masterminds of the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. He was killed in a high-altitude operation by the Army in Yousmarg in Budgam district earlier this week.Officials said Moosa had sustained bullet injuries during an earlier encounter in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla area of Rajouri during Operation Sheruwali. The operation continued for more than 45 days as security forces hunted for two terrorists trapped in the area. They were later identified as Moosa and his associate Yasir.While hiding in the jungles of Poonch and Rajouri, Moosa applied honey to his wounds in an attempt to accelerate healing and prevent infection. Cut off from medical treatment because of the security cordon, he relied on the substance as he remained concealed in the forests. After Yasir was killed in the higher reaches of Yousmarg in the first week of September, security forces recovered a phone from him. It contained pictures of Moosa's honey-treated injuries, which were sent across the border to handlers in Pakistan to keep them informed about his condition.The handlers, officials said, were also issuing instructions to ensure that the honey being used was pure, believing this would help Moosa recover faster. Moosa was allegedly involved in around a dozen terror attacks, including the 2025 Pahalgam attack in which 26 people, mainly tourists, were killed in the meadows of Baisaran.In April 2023, he allegedly orchestrated the Bhatta Duriyan ambush in Poonch, in which five soldiers were killed. A month later, the Kandi forest blast in Rajouri claimed the lives of five commandos.In December 2023, Moosa allegedly led the Dera Ki Gali ambush in Poonch, which killed four military personnel. In May 2024, his group targeted an Indian Air Force convoy near Shasitar, killing one airman.By late 2024, Moosa shifted his focus towards civilians and critical infrastructure. On October 20, an attack on a construction camp at the Gagangir tunnel project in Ganderbal killed seven people, including a local physician.Four days later, his module allegedly ambushed an Army vehicle in Butapathri, killing two soldiers and two civilian defence porters. On September 30, he died in an operation in central Kashmir.WHAT EXPERTS SAY ABOUT HONEY AND WOUND HEALINGMedical experts said honey has long been used in traditional systems of medicine for wound care, although treatment of gunshot wounds requires proper medical intervention.Dr R P Parasher, president of the All India Doctors Association of Indian System of Medicine, said Ayurveda, including texts such as the Sushruta Samhita, refers to honey in Vrana Chikitsa, or wound care, for its cleansing and healing properties.He said modern research has identified mechanisms that may explain some of honey's antimicrobial properties, including its high osmotic activity, acidic pH and hydrogen-peroxide generation in certain preparations.However, Parasher cautioned that gunshot wounds must be thoroughly cleaned because retained particles can interfere with healing. He added that clinical treatment requires sterile, medical-grade honey to reduce the risk of secondary infection.A research paper published in Food Science and Engineering has also examined honey's role in wound healing, noting its potential to help disinfect wounds and support the healing process.Veterinary expert Dr Jahanzeb Sirwal said honey acts as an osmotic agent, drawing fluid away from the wound bed, aiding the removal of dead tissue and reducing inflammation.He said honey can be an easily available option for people living in jungles who suffer burns or wounds, adding that it is also commonly applied to wounds in cattle.- Ends