Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram today said that the progress of the on-going operation against the Maoists in the Naxal-hit states is satisfactory. Talking to reporters after a high-level meeting in Raipur, he said, the joint operation against the Naxalites is few weeks old and the progress has been satisfactory. <br/><br/>Besides Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, Chief Minister of Orissa, Naveen Patnaik and Home Minister of Maharashtra, R R Patil, attended the meeting that lasted for about two hours. Senior police officials of the Naxal-infested states and para-military forces engaged in the operation were also present. <br/><br/>The Home Minister clarified that the government intended to avoid unnecessary violence and collateral damages through the operation. Mr Chidambaram said, the goal of the operation is not to engage in gun-battles, but to re-assert the establishment of civil-administration in the affected pockets. <br/><br/>He said, the administration would be allowed to exercise the coordination of taking up development works in the areas. The three states of Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Maharashtra have agreed to cooperate and coordinate in the joint operation.