New Delhi, Mar 19 : Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil informed the Rajya Sabha today that the Naxalite problem should not be exaggerated to level that it would spread fear among the people.

Patil further said that the problem is present in only two per cent of country's 6.5 lakh villages. He said ten States and 180 Districts are affected by the Naxalite problem.

Patil said going by the number of States and Districts, the problem might look big. But at a micro level, only 300 police stations out of over 14,000 have reported Naxalite activities and at the village level, only 14,000 of them are Naxal hit.

“We should look at the scale (of Naxal violence) and not exaggerate it and create fear,” he said.

“In Chhattisgarh, the worst Naxal violence affected State, 15,000 central officers, armoured vehicles, helicopters and money for purchasing arms has been given to the State Government to tackle the problem,” Patil said.

Patil said the Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach and strategy to deal with the situation in areas affected by militancy and insurgency.

“The experience gathered in the process of countering militancy and insurgency in different areas, is constantly used to formulate and calibrate strategies, plan and policies in this regard,” he said. (ANI)