The commanding officer of a Rashtriya Rifles battalion in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] has been removed from his post a little over a month after the unit was involved in the alleged killing of three civilians who were mistaken for militants, sources said.

Officials, however, claimed Col R S Guleria, the commander of 33 Rashtriya Rifles posted in the Kupwara area, was removed for displaying 'inefficiency'.

The National Human Rights Commission had, last month, taken suo moto cognisance of reports that three civilians were gunned down by soldiers of 33 Rashtriya Rifles on August 12 after being mistaken for militants.

Two of the persons were reportedly collecting wood in a forest when they were fired at by the troops at Dragmulla in Kupwara.

Army officials said the soldiers opened fire as they thought the persons were armed with a weapon that later turned out to be an axe.

Guleria, an officer of the Gorkha Rifles regiment, had earlier led a NCC unit, they said.