Shopian: In a deadly attack, unknown gunmen resorted to indiscriminate firing on a Jammu Kashmir Bank Cash Van killing two security guards and injuring one in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has condemned the killing and Jammu & Kashmir Bank Chairman Parvez Ahmed has assured full support to the families of the victims
Reports said that a bank van had gone to Kral Chek from Shopian to lift cash from the bank branch there and when it left the place, unidentified gunmen appeared on the spot near Kral Chek and fired indiscriminately on the vehicle.
“The impact of firing was such that driver lost its control on the van and it turned turtle. Three seucirty guards were wounded in the attack who were immediately taken to District Hospital Shopian,” said an official .
He said Doctors referred all the wounded to Pulwama hospital where two among the three guards succumbed to their injuries.
Medical Superintendent Pulwama hospital Dr Abdul Rasheed Parra identified the slain guards as Bilal Ahmed of Tamhalhal Pulwama and Tariq Ahmed from Khanabal Anantnag.
Shortly, after the attack, government forces cordoned off the area and a manhunt was launched to nab the assailants.
Meanwhile, J&K Bank Chairman and CEO Parvez Ahmed expressed shock over these killings.
He said, “It is very painful news and we at J&K Bank are shocked over the killings of security personnel namely Mushtaq Ahmad and Tariq Ahmad by the unidentified gunmen while guarding the bank’s cash delivery vehicle. I express my heartfelt condolences and all our sympathies are with the bereaved families. I also wish speedy recovery to the three injured officials of the bank including security guard.”
“Let me add here that these innocent guards were there only to protect the people’s money and such gruesome incidents create hardships for the general public and hinder us from serving the people of these areas well”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman assured the bereaved families of appropriate support from the bank. “Human life is invaluable and its loss can in no way be compensated. However, the affected families need to be sufficiently supported financially and emotionally as they have lost bread earners.”
Notably, both these guards were employees of Perfect Placement – a private security firm.
