(CNN) -- Authorities are investigating the death of a Tibetan villager fatally shot by police during their probe into an alleged theft at a construction site in China's northwest Gansu province, state media reported.
The suspect was killed when a police officer's gun apparently went off during a struggle as the villager reached for the weapon, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Police, the agency reported, launched a probe into the apparent theft on January 9 and had followed "traces on the snow-covered ground to the house," where the shooting occurred.
The suspect later died at a nearby hospital, it reported. A police officer was also injured during the confrontation.
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Rights' groups, such as the International Campaign for Tibet, say the man -- identified as Gurgo Tsering -- died when the police officer fired the gun through the window of the house during a night raid.
The groups says another Tibetan, Gonpo Kyab, was also detained during the confrontation.
CNN cannot independently confirm that account.
The incident appears to be the latest in the Tibetan-populated area, where tensions between authorities and anti-government protesters have sparked recent demonstrations.
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