8 freedom fighters martyred in IOJ and K.

Eight freedom fighters were martyred in two separate gunfights with the Indian forces in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ and K) over the past 24 hours, the regional police said on Friday.

Three separatists embraced martyrdom in a Meej encounter in the Pampore area of southern Pulwama district while five more were martyred in the Bandpawa area of the Shopian district.

A police officer told Anadolu Agency that security forces early morning Thursday launched a cordon and search operation at Meej, South Kashmir after receiving specific information about the presence of freedom fighters there.

In another gunfight at the Bandpawa area of the occupied territory, in Shopian, one freedom fighter was martyred yesterday while four more embraced martyrdom today.

Defence spokesperson of the army Col. Rajesh Kalia said the forces had launched the operation...