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Srinagar, Oct 5 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Police today began investigations into the killing of two members of a family by the Army in Kokernag area of Anantnag district on Tuesday night, official sources said today.

Meanwhile, the Army has regretted the incident and started its own inquiry.

Police yesterday registered a case against the Army personnel involved in the killing of 25-year-old Misra and her 18-year-old brother Mohammad Ashraf Naikoo, both children of Hashim Ali, during an ambush at Ahlan Adool village in Kokernag area. Ali's another son Abdul Karim and his wife Lateefa were wounded in the firing.

The sources said the Jammu and Kashmir government has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident following massive protests by the locals.

Anantnag Deputy Commissioner G A Peer ordered the probe after he along with senior Army, police and civil officials visited the area yesterday, they added.

The sources said Additional District Development Commissioner Jaipal Singh has been asked to conduct the inquiry and submit his report by October 24.

The state government would provide relief to the affected families while the Army has also assured help, they added.

The Army personnel had mistaken the civilians as militants.

Thousands of people took to streets at Kokernag in protest and demanded inquiry into the incident. Shops and other business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads.

Regretting the incident, a defence spokesman said an Army column laid an ambush between village Phrumbu and Buna Ahlan on the intervening night of October 3-4, following a tip off.

At about midnight, five people were seen approaching the ambush site. As they entered the area, they were challenged by the Army after which all five of them started running, he added.

The Army's ambush party opened fire resulting in two fatal and two non fatal casualties, the spokesman said.

On ascertaining the facts, he said it was found that these people were civilians. They were returning from fields with their agricultural implements mistakenly taken as weapons by the Army.

''The Army deeply regrets the incident which happened due to mistaken identity and offers all condolences to the family. Detailed inquiry is in progress,'' the spokesman said.

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