In a major attack, terrorists today shot dead seven people, including five policemen, after dragging them out of a vehicle carrying cash of a bank in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.
The cash van of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, which was returning to Kulgam district headquarter from Damhal Hanji Pora, was waylaid by a group of heavily-armed terrorists this afternoon, a police official said.
The terrorists dragged the cops and the bank officials out of the vehicle and and shot them from point blank range, a police official said.
While four cops and two bank employees -- including a bank security guard -- died on the spot, the fifth cop succumbed to injuries at a hospital, the official said.
Among the deceased is an Assistant Sub Inspector of Police.
The cash van had deposited cash in the Neehama village branch of the bank and was returning to Kulgam town when it came under attack.
The militants have reportedly decamped with four service rifles of the slain cops but the police official said these reports were being verified.
The police is also investigating whether the militants had taken away any cash.
Senior police and paramilitary officers rushed to the spot. Security forces launched a hunt for the killers.
Pakistan-based terror group Hizbul Mujahideen has taken responsibility of the attack.
In a tele-statement to KNS, Hizbul's operational spokesman Burhan-u-din said that the militants of the outfit attacked the “forces party” in Kulgam and decamped with four rifles after the attack.
The spokesman said that field operational commander, Mehmood Ghaznawi, congratulated and announced reward for the militants.
