Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 27: State home minister, G Parameshwar, said that Karnataka government has been keeping a close watch on the activities of a few youngsters from the state, who are involved with IS activities.

The minister said that the intelligence agencies at the national level have gathered important information about IS operatives in the state. He added that his department is in no position to reveal the contents of some secret information it has on these operations.

The minister was reacting to queries made by media persons about the information recently provided by the union ministry of home about the deaths of three persons of Karnataka origin when fighting for the IS in a foreign land.

Parameshwar said that his department has been taking the issue in all seriousness and that investigation is on about the antecedents of the killed persons, and also about the possibility of any recruiting mechanism being in operation in the state. "We are contemplating steps to stop youngsters from being influenced to tread the path of violence and hatred," he added.

The minister also said that the state government is worried over the rising number of incidents which indicate steady rise of intolerance in the state. He blamed Hindu fundamentalists for aggravating the situation by contradicting belief systems followed by others. He hastened to add that this phenomenon and also increased activism caused by religious bigotry is witnessed everywhere around the globe.