In a case of mistaken identity, the army on Saturday shot dead two civilians while another was killed by a stray bullet in Kupwara district, a defence spokesperson said in Srinagar [Images].

Troops of the 33 Rashtriya Rifles shot dead two civilians mistaking them for ultras in the forest area of Chailppatti in Drugmulla area of the district in the wee hours, defence spokesperson Hemant Kumar Joneja said.

The troops had laid an ambush in the forest area following specific information about the movement of militants. At 0330 hours, the troops noticed movement of two persons with something that looked like a weapon, he said.

Joneja said the duo were challenged, but started running away following which the troops opened fire, killing them on the spot.

At first light, search of the area was carried out and the bodies of a man and a woman were recovered along with an axe, which might have been on the shoulder of the man giving the impression of a weapon to the troops, Joneja said.

He said army regrets the killing of the civilians and adequate compensation would be provided to the families of the deceased. An internal inquiry has also been ordered into the incident, he added.

Earlier, the spokesperson had said that two persons were killed by stray bullets in a cross-firing incident.

The deceased were identified as Ghulam [Images] Mohiuddin Tantray and Rubina.