Two security guards were killed on Monday after unidentified gunmen attacked a cash van of Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Kellar area of Shopian district of south Kashmir.A police officer told news agency GNS gunmen on Monday afternoon at 1500 hours intercepted a cash vehicle, a Scorpio bearing registration number JK01M-4631, of Jammu and Kashmir Bank at Poju Kral Check in Keller area of Shopian district and fired indiscriminately on it. He said that two bank security guards sustained critical bullet injuries and were shifted to Pulwama Hospital where they succumbed. Due to firing, the driver of the vehicle lost his balance and it turned turtle.The security guards were identified as Tariq Ahmad, resident of Tumulhal Pulwama and Mushtaq Ahmad, resident of Anantnag. The police however said that no cash amount was looted from the van and it had already deposited that in the bank. The officer said that the van was on way to Kellar from Pulwama.Meanwhile, soon after the incident, government forces rushed to the spot and launched searches.
However no one was arrested so far. While the police blamed militants for the attack, no insurgent outfit so far has claimed responsibility for it.Condemning the incident, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti described the incident as highly unfortunate in which the officials guarding the public money were killed. Mehbooba Mufti has also grieved over the death of a woman during a search operation in Handwara today.Mehbooba said she has been all along warning of the ill effects of violence and reiterated her appeal to civil society to rise to the occasion and make the future of our youngsters safe and peaceful.Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq strongly condemned the killing of two bank guards at Keller Shopian. Terming the incident as very unfortunate and condemnable, an amalgam spokesman expressed solidarity and sympathy with the families of bereaved guards. (GNS)