Srinagar: In one of the biggest bank robberies in recent years, militants today (Nov 4, 2004) looted Rs 71 lakhs after killing a police guard and seriously injuring four employees in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

About half a dozen heavily-armed militants wearing 'phirans' (gowns) to hide their weapons entered Imam Sahib branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Shopian township, 55 kms from Srinagar around 11.45 hrs (IST) official sources said.

They overpowered the policemen guarding the bank and opened fire as the staff resisted their attempt to loot injuring four staffers including the branch manager and a police guard, they said.

The militants decamped with about Rs 71 lakhs and three weapons, a .303 rifle, a carbine and a SLR of the police guards in a waiting taxi.

The injured were rushed to hospital but a head constable Ghulam Mohammad Khan succumbed to injuries, the sources said.

The injured Branch Manager Manzoor Ahmad Kouchary, assistant cashier Abdul Majid Bhat, clerk Aftab Ahmad Dewa and peon Mushtaq Ahmad Shaloo were admitted to a hospital here and their condition was stated to be critical.

A massive hunt was on to track down the militants, police said.

This was the second bank robbery in Shopian belt within two months. In September, militants looted Rs 36 lakhs from Kachdoora branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank on gunpoint.