Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 1: In a major strike, five policemen including an officer and two bank officials were killed when militants attacked a Jammu and Kashmir Bank Van in Kulgam district of South Kashmir today. Hacklink
A J&K Bank mobile van bearing registration number JK01P-9793 carrying cash in the southern district of Kulgam was attacked by militants near Bombay village of the district.
Five policemen including an Assistant Sub-Inspector and two JK Bank officials were killed in the deadly attack and militants decamped with 4 riles of the cops.
The slain policemen have been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Bashir Ahmad Dar (100/GRP) son of Abdul Gani Dar of Bonigam Qazigund, Farooq Ahmad Bhat (No. 332/KGM) son of Abdul Aziz of Nehama D.H.Pora, Mohammad Qasim (No. 638/KGM) son of Bohu Khan of Awoora Trehgam Kupwara, Muzafar Ahmad (No. 1090/KGM) son of Gul Mohammad Bhat of Y.K.Pora Qazigund, and Ishfaq Ahmad Hajam (No. 745/KGM) son of Abdul Ahad Hajam of Zakoora Batpora Srinagar. The two Security Guards of J&K Bank have been identified as Javaid Ahmad Bhat of Vessu Batpora Kulgam and Muzafar Ahmad Laway of Largoo D.H. Pora Kulgam.
The militants fled away after carrying out the attack leaving the cops and bank officials in a pool of blood. Soon after the incident, a joint team of Army, SOG and CRPF reached the spot and have launched a massive man hunt against the assailants.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir SJM Gillani said that the incident happened at around 4:15 pm at Pombai in Kulgam. “The cash van was returning to Kulgam from Manzgam and terrorists attacked it in which our five police personnel were martyred. Two civilians, who were in the van, were also martyred in the attack”, he said.
The IGP said that Umar Majid and his associates carried out the attack. “During our preliminary investigation, the name of a terrorist from Kulgam, Umar Majeed, and two of his associates, has come forward. They have taken four weapons which were being carried by the guards”, he said.
Militants this evening fired at the vehicle of DySP headquarter Pulwama, Farooq Ahmad at Dangerpora Pulawma. His guards retaliated. However, no loss of life was reported.
Hizbul Mujahiden has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, it said that they killed five policemen and not bank guards. “They were killed by CRPF men,” it claimed and said that the attack was not aimed at looting cash.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti strongly condemned the killing of five police personnel and two bank officials of a cash van.
Minister said the officials were on duty to disburse and collect cash at a local bank branch and their killing reflects the dangerous criminalization turn the society is taking.
Mehbooba also condemned the killing of two soldiers in a cross LoC fire in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district. She also expressed grief over the death of a civilian in a grenade attack yesterday in the Khanyar area of Srinagar.
Mehbooba Mufti said she has been warning of the ill effects of violence time and again and appealed the civil society to rise to the occasion to make the future of our younger generation peaceful.
Meanwhile, JK Bank Chairman Parvez Ahmad expressed grief over the killing of security personnel guarding the bank’s cash van.”We at J&K Bank are pained over the killings of these security personnel who were on way back to Kulgam after delivering cash remittance at the Bank’s Manzgam, Aharbal branch. My heartfelt condolences and deep sympathies are with the bereaved families,” he said.
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