Indian occupation troops on Wednesday gunned down eight freedom fighters, including a senior commander, in three shootouts in occupied Kashmir, an army official said.
"We established contact with the freedom fighters early Wednesday and during the ensuing shootout we killed six of them," occupation Army Spokesman Colonel Hemant Juneja said, adding that there were no casualties among the soldiers.
The four-hour exchange of fire took place in Khag village in central Badgam district. The area was cordoned off while occupation troops searched for more possible suspected freedom fighters in the village, the army official said.
He said the slain freedom fighters belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen.
"Among the dead was Hizbul's district commander Shaukat Ahmed alias Janbaz," Juneja said. He said Ahmed was being sought by the authorities over several killings and kidnappings.
Separately, occupation troops shot dead two more freedom fighters in southern Anantnag district on Wednesday, the army said.