J&K Bank denies closure of branches in south Kashmir

Srinagar, May 6 (IANS) The management of Jammu and Kashmir Bank on Saturday denied media reports about closure of some of its branches in south Kashmir's Pulwama and Shopian districts.

Reacting to media reports that 40 branches of the J&K Bank and Ellaquai Dehati Bank had been closed following threats from militants, Sajad Bazaz, in-charge corporate communications of J&K Bank said: "We deny such reports. No branch has been closed in any district including Shopian and Pulwama."

Bazaz said that there was a security advisory that "we should temporarily shift cash transactions from branches operating in some vulnerable areas. Only cash transactions of such branches are being carried out at other branches at the moment."

Expressing hope, the communication in-charge said "we are resuming cash transactions at these branches within the coming seven days".

Earlier reports had said these branches had been temporarily closed after an advisory from the security forces.

In the last few days, militants have forced entry into a few rural branches and looted money in lakhs. The militants also attacked a cash van on Monday in Kulgam district that left five policemen and two bank employees dead.

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