New Delhi, June 27 : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh presided over a meeting of top officials of all Maoist-affected provinces in New Delhi on Friday, and discussed strategies to deal with rebel activities. He also assured the government's support in tackling the issue.

Directors General of Police, chief secretaries of states and paramilitary chiefs attended the meeting.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju was also present at the meeting.

The meeting was aimed at chalking out plans to tackle Maoism and review rebel operations in the affected states.

Senior officials from eastern states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and western province of Maharashtra attended the meeting.

Maoists, also known as Naxals, have killed police and politicians, and targeted government buildings and railway tracks in an insurgency that has killed thousands since 1960s.

The Maoist issue in India has become a serious concern for the state administrations as it has been taking toll on lives and properties in many provinces across India. In such a time, the new government has stepped in bearing huge responsibility of combating the issue.

The rebel group, which claims to be fighting for the rights of the poor and landless, controls some of India's mineral-rich areas and operate in large swathes of the eastern, central and southern countryside.

The rebels are estimated to number 7000 hardcore fighters in nearly a third of India's 630 districts.(ANI)