Kupwara/Dec,17: A sumo driver was killed after army opened fire during an ambush in Kralpora area of Kupwara in north Kashmir late Saturday night, police said.
A top police official said that the killing of the driver, identified as Asif Iqbal, was a case of “mistaken identity”.
“As per army authorities’ version, soldiers had laid an ambush in the area. The sumo driver was asked to stop but he didn’t and was then shot by them,” he was quoted as saying.
“This is very unfortunate and regrettable. We will hold an enquiry into the matter and whosoever is guilty would be punished.”
“We appeal people to cooperate with us to know under what circumstances the army fired. We request them not to take law into their hands and cooperate with us,” he said.
Local and family sources, however, said that the driver was shot at by the army just few yards from his house as he was about to start the engine to ferry a patient to a hospital.
They said that the army had laid an ambush at Thandipora village after receiving inputs about the movement of militants.
“As he came few yards from his house, the army fired at him, leaving him in pool of blood. He succumbed en route to Srinagar at Sopore,” they said.
Meanwhile, authorities have blocked the Internet services in the frontier district.
