In the wake of the recent killing of 15 police personnel by Naxals in Maharashtra, the Union Home Ministry has convened a high-level meeting on Thursday to discuss the internal security in that state as well in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa.

The director generals of police of the four Naxal-hit states have been summoned by the ministry for a thorough review of the prevailing situation there.

The meeting to be chaired by Special Secretary (Internal Security) Raman Srivastava comes close on the heels of the encounter in Markegaon in Gadchiroli district on Sunday, in which 15 cops were gunned down by the Naxals.

A senior Home Ministry official said the meeting will also discuss the follow-up action that needs to be taken on the decision taken by the chief ministers of the Naxal-affected states on January 7.

About a dozen states are badly affected by Naxal violence with Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa bearing the brunt.

More than 1,000 cases of Naxal violence have been reported last year, in which over 200 security personnel and 300 civilians have been killed.