Srinagar, Aug 31 - Separatist guerrillas shot dead two Central Reserve Police Force (CPRF) troopers from close range in the commercial heart of Srinagar Monday as hundreds of people crowded the area.

The two victims were taken by surprise as they stood guard on the side of a busy road in the city centre Lal Chowk in the afternoon.

The killers suddenly opened fire, targeting the security personnel's head since the bulletproof vests cover only their chest.

Both men collapsed and bled to death even as they were rushed to a police hospital.

'Both 'jawans' were shot in the head and they succumbed to their injuries in the police hospital,' a police officer told IANS.

Even as a large number of police and CRPF personnel rushed to the site, the gunmen escaped.

In less than half hour, militants lobbed a grenade at a CRPF bunker near the main bus stand in Srinagar's Batmalloo area, injuring 10 civilians, two CRPF personnel and two policemen.