"At around 10.55 p.m., the military observed suspicious movement of three persons which prompted the security forces to open fire, leading to a gunfight," the officer said. "In the cross-fire, a person, later identified as Asif Iqbal Bhat, a taxi driver, was killed due to a gunshot wound," he added.



But villagers alleged that Bhat succumbed to injuries he sustained when an Army patrol fired at a vehicle. As people took to the streets shouting slogans on Sunday, security forces used tear smoke to disperse them. Internet was suspended across Kupwara district.