Five policemen, two bank employees killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 1 (IANS) Militants on Monday shot dead five policemen and two bank employees in an audacious attack on a cash van in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, police said.

The incident took place in Pombai village when an unspecified number of militants waylaid and targeted the cash van of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank when it was on its way to Kulgam town, about 70 km from here.

"Militants fired at the van occupants," a police officer said. The attackers escaped with the rifles of the slain policemen.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Kashmir Range) S.P. Pani said a massive manhunt had been launched for the killers.

The Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack. A Hizbul spokesman, calling himself as Burhan-ud-Din, made the claim over telephone to a local news agency.

Senior police and paramilitary officers rushed to the spot after the killings.

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.