Kulgam cash van attack: Hizbul terrorists kill 5 policemen and 2 bank officials

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. He said the terrorists pulled out the five police personnel and two bank employees from the vehicle and shot them from point blank range.

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 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. Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit claimed responsibility for the attack. A spokesperson of the Hizb told a local news gathering agency that its cadres had decamped with four weapons from the scene of the attack.

 In a separate incident, two soldiers were killed in an unprovoked firing by Pakistan and their bodies were mutilated on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir, said Indian Army.

The Indian Army has warned Pakistan of an 'appropriate response' for the 'despicable act.' "Pakistan Army carried out unprovoked rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts on the line of control in Krishna Ghati Sector in Jammu and Kashmir," said Northern Command in a statement. "In an unsoldierly act by the Pak Army the bodies of two of our soldiers in the patrol were mutilated," statement reads.