SRINAGAR: Eight freedom fighters were martyred in two separate clashes with the Indian forces in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) over the past 24 hours.
According to the regional police, three Kashmiri 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 during the last 24 hours.
Police sources said that Indian security forces on Thursday launched a cordon and search operation at Meej, South Kashmir after receiving specific information about the presence of freedom fighters.
In another gunfight at the Bandpawa area, one freedom fighter was martyred yesterday while four more embraced martyrdom on Friday morning.
Defense spokesperson of the army Col. Rajesh Kalia said the forces had launched the operation in Shopian after receiving intelligence.
After the martyrdom of eight separatists today, the Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar said that 100 freedom fighters in the disputed region have been martyred in 2020.
According to reports, 32 freedom fighters have been martyred in southern Kashmir during the last 19 days, which include 22 separatists martyred in Shopian alone in less than a 2-week period.
Media reports said that 72 freedom fighters were martyred alone since the pandemic emerged in the region on March 20, while 102 separatists have been martyred since the beginning of this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
