Two security guards were killed after terrorists attacked a cash van in south Kashmir's Shopian (file)
Two security guards were killed after terrorists attacked a cash van in south Kashmir's Shopian on Monday. In a similar attack in May, six people including five policemen were killed in Kulgam district.
The terrorists, police say, shot the two security guards, Mushtaq Ahmad and Tariq Ahmad, from point blank range after they did not find any cash inside the bulletproof bank vehicle. Both were declared brought dead in the hospital.
A total of six people, including driver, were travelling in the bank vehicle when it was attacked at Kral Check area in Shopian district, police said.
"All the six persons came out and pleaded for mercy and told terrorists that they have already delivered cash at a J&K bank branch," said South Kashmir's Deputy Inspector General of Police, Swayam Prakash Pani said.
The police said they have identified terrorists behind the attack.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and all the political leaders have condemned the killings.
After demonetisation, terrorists have looted several banks in south Kashmir. In May, they attacked a bank vehicle in Kulgam in which five police and bank guards were killed.
After series of attacks and robberies, more than 40 bank branches were closed for cash transactions in the area. Police said the bank authorities did not inform them before sending cash vans to terror-infested area.
"We have already issued an advisory that banks should inform police before sending cash to sensitive areas. But they didn't inform us" said a police officer posted in Shopian.