Gunmen looted the Shopian branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank after shooting dead a guard posted at its entrance on Thursday afternoon, police in Srinagar said.

The gunmen also inflicted bullet injuries on three staff before escaping with an unspecified amount of money, the police said.

A hunt is on for the culprits.

Officials are at the spot to take stock of the situation and to also ascertain the exact amount looted.

In the last 18 years, dozens of robberies have been reported in the Valley. The blame is put on Kashmiri militants.