Omar praises security forces for Sopore encounter

"We will rather like to see the attempts (by militants) to infiltrate to come to an end which would end the need for these encounters," Omar told reporters after presiding over the passing out parade of 897 police recruits at STC Sheeri here.

The Chief Minister said the killing of the militants yesterday was a success for the security forces.

"An encounter in which militants are eliminated with security forces taking no causality is a successful operation. The sheer size of the group of militants -- five killed and two more holed up as per information given to me -- has to be a success for the security forces," Omar said.

Asked about the level of infiltration of militants from across the Line of Control (LoC) during the year, the Chief Minister said he could not put an exact number to the ultras who have sneaked in as the Army and state intelligence had different figures for it.

"There is some discrepancy in the number local formation and Jammu and Kashmir police have agreed upon to the number (of militants who had infiltrated) that the Army headquarters has taken to the Multi Agency Centre which we believe is on the higher side. We are trying to resolve this," he said.