Cabinet reviews country's internal security

Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's meeting with the chief ministers of all states next week, the Cabinet Committee on Security on Saturday reviewed the country's internal security as also the intelligence gathering mechanism and measures to strengthen it.

"The CCS made a comprehensive review of the internal security situation in the country," Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after the two-hour meeting refusing to divulge further details.

However, informed sources said the cabinet committee discussed terrorism, left wing extremism, disaster management, police augumentation and communal violence.

It also reviewed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Northeast and half a dozen states affected by the Naxal violenece, they said adding the intelligence gathering mechanism was also discussed as also steps required for strengthening it.

Building a synergy between various state forces engaged either in countering terrorism or tackling naxalism was also the focus of the meeting, they said. The CCS meeting is seen as a precursor to the September five meeting during which the prime minister will be interacting with state Chief Ministers to discuss internal security in the country.