A 29-year-old man Osman Yahaya has died after he was shot at close range by military men in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.

The incident is reported to have happened on Saturday at the Anglogold Ashanti mine. There are however, conflicting reports about why he was shot dead.

The Divisional Police Commander ACP Kofi Dwumfuor Berchie in an interview with Joy News, claimed the deceased was spotted cutting cables at an underground mine belonging to Anglogold. Upon seeing military personnel, he took to his heel and was chased.

ACP Berchie said the deceased first overpowered an army personnel and was shot by another who came in to assist his colleague. He defended the action by the military personnel claiming that, the deceased wielded "knife" which he could have used to fight the security men.

"There was nothing they [army officers] could have done [because], the man is strong", ACP Berchie stated.

This has been countered by Afua Ahia who claims to be a relative of the deceased. Afua insisted Osman was innocent.

According to her, Osman, who had rented an apartment in the area, had nothing on him at the time he was shot to back the claim that he was an armed robber. The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Obuasi Government Hospital.