Bank loot by militants in Kashmir, 3rd since demonetisation

In the third such incident since demonetisation, a bank was looted in Kashmir on Thursday by militants who decamped with Rs 11 lakh.

Police said the militants, whose number was not clear yet, barged into the Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch at Rantipora in Pulwama district.

They looted Rs 11 lakh – Rs 16,000 in demonetised notes and rest in valid currency, police said.

Soon after the incident, police arrived on the spot but local residents started pelting stones at them, he said.

This is third bank robbery by militants since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes on November 8.

Earlier on December 8, four militants looted a branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank at Arihal in the same Pulwama district and fired several rounds before fleeing with cash.

They decamped with nearly Rs 10 lakh from the bank. Prior to that on November 21, suspected militants robbed a bank in Chrar-e-Sharief area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, decamping with nearly Rs 13 lakh cash.