<span style="color: #222222;">In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,  terrorist groups in Kashmir Valley suffered a major setback as EIGHT Terrorists were gunned down by security forces in the counter-insurgency operations at two different areas in South Kashmir during the last 24 hours.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">  </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Security forces, based on a specific input about the presence of terrorists in both the areas, had laid joint Cordon and Search Operations by J&K Police, Rashtriya  Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force yesterday. When the security forces approached towards the suspected spots, the terrorists fired upon them which resulted into raging of gunfights between terrorists and security forces in Meej Pampore and Bandapawa Shopian and today both these operations ended with the elimination of the Eight Terrorists.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">  </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Defence Spokesperson said that Three terrorists were killed in Meej Pampore while Five terrorists were killed in Bandapawa Shopian operations by security forces. Yesterday one terrorist each, had been killed in Meej Pampore and Bandapawa Shopian while both the operations continued till this morning.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">  </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In Meej Pampore, the remaining two terrorists had taken shelter in a nearby Mosque. Defence Spokesperson Col. Rajesh Kalia said that the security forces with due patience & professionalism, didn't use any firing & IED to neutralize the holed-up terrorists but used only tear smoke shells and subsequently maintained the sanctity of the Mosque. He said that the operation was precise and no collateral damage has taken place during the operation.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">  </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar has congratulated the security forces in Kashmir for killing 100 terrorists in the Valley this year so far.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">  </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, Imaam of the Jamia Masjid Mosque at Meej Pampore where the terrorists had taken shelter and were holed up after being trapped in an encounter,  has expressed his gratitude to the security forces on behalf of the local population of the area, for exercising maximum restraint and patient role in safeguarding the religious place by ensuring zero damage during an encounter that ensued between the terrorists and security forces.</span><br />'' <b><span style="color: #222222;">   </span></b><br />''