New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with senior officials of central intelligence and investigative agencies along with the police of 13 states to discuss the steps for keeping a check on the growing influence of ISIS on the youngsters through social media and other sources.
The day-long meeting was held to figure out a way to deal with situation arising out of some Indian youths getting attracted towards ISIS, also known as ISIL or DAESH.
"The issues that were discussed included misuse of social media, sources of impetus that attract persons, specially youth, to DAESH, the growth of DAESH influence in India's neighbourhood and the best possible law enforcement response," a Home Ministry spokesperson said.
The meeting also saw a discussion over 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.
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 DAESH 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.
Singh said a large number of people and most Muslim organisations in India had come out against both DAESH and other forms of terrorism. The 13 states and Union Territory, which attended the interaction, are Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra.
According to intelligence agencies, a total of 23 Indians have so far joined the ISIS of which six were reportedly killed in different incidents. Around 150 Indians are under surveillance for their alleged online links with ISIS, the officials had said.
(With inputs from PTI)
