The north Kashmir town of Kangan, which lies on the Amarnath yatra route, erupted in protest, as a civilian was killed and another critically wounded in a scuffle between two Rashtriya Rifles troopers and locals.

The residents alleged that the scuffle was triggered by an attempt by two troopers to molest a girl on Thursday afternoon.

A senior police officer said, "We are investigating the incident."

The locals alleged that a group of villagers intervened, which infuriated the two troopers, one of whom opened fire from his automatic service rifle killing one civilian -- identified as Abdul Rahman Magray -- on the spot and critically wounding another.

Sources said that the trooper subsequently shot himself too and was rushed to the hospital.

However unconfirmed reports said the trooper too succumbed.

The protestors forced the closure of the market and obstructed the flow of the traffic on the highway, which leads to north Kashmir Amarnath yatra Baltel base camp.

Senior district officials including the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police rushed to the spot and tried to convince the protestors that action would be taken after registering an FIR in the local police station.

The passage of pilgrims on the north Kashmir route which is being used by a majority of pilgrims this year has been halted.

The vehicles carrying pilgrims are now camped at the Manigam police complex, 7 km from Kangan as the authorities are trying hard to restore order in the town and have the highway cleared.

The authorities are also persuading the people to bury the body of the slain civilian.