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The meeting will formalise a strategy for aiding the government's efforts to neutralise extremist ideologies such as that espoused by ISIS or ISIL. Ways to prevent Indian youth from coming under the sway of extremist doctrines are on the agenda of a high-level meeting.

“Attraction towards a radical ideology of any religion is a matter of concern. We will have to put in place a system, as there are inputs that the Indian youth are attracted to different extremist ideologies, including the 'Caliphate' promoted by ISIS," a Home Ministry official said.

"Counter-radicalisation efforts would include counseling of youth, convincing community elders to persuade the younger generation to not get influenced by any extremist ideology, monitoring of social media sites and taking preventive steps. The focus would also be on how to quickly respond to any report of the younger generation planning to join terror groups like ISIS,” the official said.

“Home Secretaries and police chiefs of states - Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Assam, Punjab, West Bengal and Delhi are to take part in the meeting,” the official added.

Around 25 youngsters have been identified across the country as having been attracted to the idea of IS and wanting to join the group.

By Premji