Kolkata, Aug 12: A day after the fierce gun battle at Lakhanpur jungle in junglemahal between Maoists and joint forces, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to them to give up violence and offered a fresh package.
Promising security to Maoists who surrendered, Banerjee said “We want Maoists to leave the politics of guns and violence and join the mainstream. Return to a normal life with your families.”
Maoists who laid down arms would receive a fixed deposit of Rs 1.5 lakh in their names which could be withdrawn after three years, Banerjee told reporters here. They would also be entitled to receive a stipend of Rs 2000 per month for 36 months which would be withdrawn after they received a job, she said.
For arms surrendered, Banerjee said, “depending on the quality, Maoists will be paid between Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh.”
She stressed that it was the responsibility of the state government to give security, both personal and social, to those who returned to the mainstream.
On the release of political prisoners, which her government has promised to do, Banerjee said “The instruction to release 50 prisoners have been sent, but there are certain problems on the release of two.”
She said that this was being sorted out. Banerjee also said that the process to give 10,000 jobs in the police to tribal youths, particularly in junglemahal, has begun. PTI
