Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviews internal security situation

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today reviewed the internal security situation in the country in the wake of turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir where at least 36 people have lost their lives in violent protests in the last one week.

During the nearly hour-long meeting, top security officials briefed the Home Minister on the prevailing situation in the country, particularly in Kashmir Valley which is on edge after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani, official sources said.

The Home Minister was informed that Jammu and Kashmir has been slowly returning to normalcy due to a number of steps taken by the state and central governments.

Singh has instructed that proper security must be ensured for pilgrims of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, the sources said.

The issue of 20 youngsters going missing from Kerala was also discussed in the meeting. Reports suggested that at least 11 of the youths have reached Syria and joined the dreaded terror group Islamic State.

The terror attack in France in which a driver smashed his truck into a crowd watching fireworks in the French Riviera city of Nice, killing at least 84, also figured in the meeting.

"Action has been initiated to avoid such incidents of a lone wolf taking extreme steps anywhere in India," a source said.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other security officials attended the meeting.