A group of Burka-clad gunmen on Monday raided a Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch at Arwani in Bijbehera area of Anantnag district and decamped with a cash amount of over Rs. 5 lakh. Police said the gunmen were members of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.A police official said that the gunmen carrying automatic rifles appeared in J&K Bank Arwani and looted rupees 5.20 lakhs at the gunpoint. He said that the gunmen were in burqa but they have identified them as militants of Hizbul Mujahideen. “Police have registered a case and investigation was set into motion.During the initial investigation and with the help of CCTV footage, it was found that HM militants are involved in this crime. Efforts are on to nab the culprits,” he said. Soon after the incident, government forces including police, army and CRPF rushed to the spot.No one was however detained by the forces but a manhunt was launched in the area to nab the gunmen. Sources said that before fleeing from the scene, the gunmen also opened fire in air.
The bank was later closed for business and police launched probe. Pertinently, series of bank heists in south Kashmir two months ago forced authorities to stop cash transactions in bank branches of Shopian and Pulwama.While police have blamed militants for the heists in the past as well, Lashkar-e-Toiba as well as Hizbul Mujahideen outfits have denied police accusations repeatedly. They have termed it a ploy of forces to “defame” militants. Recently, police arrested a non-local Hindu Lashkar operative from South Kashmir who it claimed was involved in bank and ATM loots. The LeT however distanced itself from the arrested man.Meanwhile, government forces launched a search and cordon operation today in Kellar area of Shopian district after receiving an input about the presence of militants. Locals came out of their houses and pelted stones on forces and attempted to hamper the operation. Police used teargas shells to disperse the protesters. Later the search operation was called off. (GNS)