Right to respond to ceasefire violations: Omar

India has the right to respond to ceasefire violations, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said at a meeting with top military commanders.

There has been a spurt in infiltration bids in Jammu and Kashmir in the last three months. The chief minister met top military commanders to assess the situation.

"It's our right to respond in cases of ceasefire violations. So far Pakistan has maintained the promise of holding ceasefire, hope they will do so in the future. Ceasefire has helped people on both sides of the LoC," Omar said.

It may be recalled that last week Army chief General Deepak Kapoor had warned Pakistan against violating the ceasefire pact. The General had said, "If ceasefire violation is not stopped, we will be forced to take retaliatory action. We normally observe restraint but if this does not stop, we will have to think of retaliatory action."

Top police officials in the state however say that there has been a sharp decline in the levels of militancy despite an increase in the attempts of infiltration. According to Director General Jammu Kashmir Police Kuldeep Khuda, several militants, including top commanders, have been killed in operations by the security forces.

"Militancy has decreased by 28 per cent in J&K. What is important is that there were efforts made from across the border to increase infiltration, but the Army and the security forces deployed at the border did a good job and many terrorists were killed right on the border. Most of those who managed to sneak in were killed in different encounters," said Khuda.