Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil today commended the bravery of C-60 Commando Force jawans, who gunned down six Maoists here last week, but said Naxal problem has to be countered with development.

The Naxal movement will have to be tackle with development and people should cooperate with the Government in this task, he said, addressing the Republic Day function at Police Grounds here in Eastern Maharashtra.

"I congratulate the police jawans for their bravery but bullet is not the only answer to the Naxal problem, which will have to be countered with development," he said.

It is the collective responsibility of political workers, the media and the people to face the challenges posed by the left-wing extremism, said Patil, who is also Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli district.

At least half a dozen rebels were killed by the jawans of C-60 at village Govindgaon in Aheri taluka on January 19. It was first time so many Maoists had been killed by police in Gadchiroli, the worst Naxal-hit district in Maharashtra.

It is necessary to strengthen democratic process in the district. The local administration is doing its best to popularise welfare schemes among people. Efforts are being made to provide quality education and health services to locals, the Minister said.

Patil said a new policy for providing employment to local youth in Class 3 and 4 jobs will soon be chalked out.

"We have distributed highest number of forest land to the tribals under Forest Rights Act and efforts are being made to provide irrigation facilities, modern equipment and loan to the landholders."

Eight Naxalites, including a woman, who had surrendered before the district Superintendent of Police a few days back, were felicitated by Patil at the function.

Meanwhile, when reporters told the minister that people in village Sewari have to walk 7/8 km to get documents like birth certificates and land records, he said it was not such a long distance.

In some parts of the district, people have to walk upto 40 kilometres for availing such documents, he observed.

The reporters wanted to draw the attention of Patil about the problems faced by people from Sewari in Etapalli taluka who have to walk down to Kasansur to get their documents.

The village panchayat and talathi building of Sewari village was damaged by the Naxals in 2007 and since then officials working at these places operate from Kasansur or the taluka headquarters of Etapalli which are 7 to 8 km away.

We are planning to repair the damaged building, the Home Minister said.

About the policemen not visiting villages in remote areas even to conduct investigation in non-Naxal offences, Patil said the issue would be discussed with the officials.