Army kills taxi driver, claims he was a militant

A taxi driver was killed allegedly by the army during an ambush in north Kashmir's frontier Kupwara district during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

While the family of the slain driver, Asif Iqbal, said he was shot “without warning” when he came out of the house to ferry some patients to a hospital, the army said he was killed in cross-fire. Earlier, police had said that it was a case of mistaken identity.

“As he (Iqbal) came few yards from his house, the army fired at him, leaving him in a pool of blood. He succumbed en route to Srinagar at Sopore,” the family members of the deceased told reporters.

However, Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said that army had laid an ambush in the village late last night after information about the presence of militants. "At around 2255 hours, ambush party observed the suspicious movement of three persons near nallah in Thindpura village. The individuals were challenged by troops, however, they did not respond," he said.

Thereafter, Col Kalia said, militants, opened fire towards army ambush party, which was retaliated to. "In the crossfire, one person, later identified as Asif Iqbal was killed due to a Gunshot wound," he said and added investigations are in progress.

Earlier, senior superintendent police (SSP) Kupwara Shamsheer Hussain while terming the killing a case of “mistaken identity”, had said, "The sumo driver was asked to stop but he didn’t and was then shot by the army."

Police have lodged an FIR and investigation has been started. Police and civil administration will provide all help to the bereaved family, a police spokesperson said.

Reports said the killing triggered massive clashes in the area with people demanding that a murder case is registered against the army. Authorities sealed all the entry points to prevent people from marching towards Kralpora area.

Reports said the security forces fired dozens of tear smoke shells to chase the protesting villagers. The clashes were going on until last reports poured in. Meanwhile, in wake of the killing authorities have blocked internet services in the frontier Kupwara district.