Arms seem to matter for Maoist rehab plan

12 April 2012

biswabrata goswami 
 JHARGRAM, 12 APRIL: The West Bengal government seems to be completely unresponsive in moving forward with its own rehabilitation and financial package for Maoists who wish to surrender without arms.
 This has apparently come true as many youths who have claimed themselves as Maoists in Junglemahal are willing to surrender before the state government, but police are virtually not responding to them.
  Frustrated with the local police and security forces, around 22 Maoists had recently shot off a letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee saying they were willing to surrender before the state government.
 “But, we've received no response from the chief minister so far. Fifty youths who had worked for Maoist squads in Junglemahal are willing to return to the mainstream. But as they do not possess any arms now, police are not interested in them,” a Maoist squad member in Belpahari said.
 To encourage Maoists to surrender arms and join the mainstream, the state government had revamped the surrender and rehabilitation package for Maoists in August last year just after the new government took charge.
 The state government had also enhanced the rehabilitation package to Rs 50,000 to former Maoist cadres at the time of surrender. Moreover, they will get a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 for two years. Earlier, the stipend was given for three years. The state government will also give another Rs 2 lakh as fixed deposit which they will be entitled to withdraw after two years. In the earlier package, the rebels were given only Rs 1.5 lakh as fixed deposit which they could withdraw after a period of three years.
 The state government has even decided to set up separate transit camps to house the surrendered Maoists and revamp the surrender and rehabilitation package in order make it more attractive.
A senior police officer, who is not willing to be named, said: “At present, we are looking for Maoist leaders Akash and Bikash. Most Maoist leaders wanted by police in Junglemahal have either been arrested or surrendered before the state government. A few of them are hiding in other states. Those who worked as Maoist linkmen are now willing to surrender to avoid arrest. So, we are not interested in them as they do not possess arms.”
 During the announcement of special rehabilitation package for Maoists, Miss Banerjee had said: “Those surrendering could join the state government in its efforts to develop areas like Jangalmahal…We assure them of a life of total security on grounds of humanity and are welcoming anyone who comes forward to work towards development, peace and progress by laying down their arms and joining the mainstream.”