Rajth meets top cops over IS threat

NEW DELHI, Jan 16: Top officials of central intelligence and investigative agencies and police of 13 States on Saturday held a meeting with Home Minister Rajth Singh and discussed steps to check the growing influence of Islamic State (IS) among youngsters through social media and other sources. The 13 states and union territory, which attended the interaction were Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Telanga, Bihar, Tamil du, West Bengal, Assam, Kartaka, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra. Singh held the meeting to review the situation arising out of some Indian youths getting attracted towards IS and how to deal with the emerging challenge. “The issues that were discussed included misuse of social media, sources of impetus that attract persons, specially youth, to IS, the growth of IS influence in India’s neighbourhood and the best possible law enforcement response,” a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

The need for appropriate welfare schemes for minorities, social media strategies to be followed and capacity-building of State police organisations, especially in the area of information technology were also discussed threadbare.

In his remarks, the Home Minister said India’s traditions and family values will triumph over even this evil, and that while the traction that IS has got in India is extremely limited, and almost insignificant relative to other countries, yet there is a need to keep up vigil on all fronts, and not let down the guard in any manner. He also noted that a large number of, and in fact, most Muslim organizations in the country has come out against both IS and other forms of terrorism.

According to intelligence agencies, a total of 23 Indians have so far joined the IS of which six were reportedly killed in different incidents.