In the backdrop of the controversy arising out of the January 3 surrender of 79 Naxals, which was subsequently branded as “fake” by both the Congress and members of the ruling BJP, the Raman Singh government has decided to rehabilitate a majority of them as Special Police Officers (SPOs). The purpose of the latest move, according to the Chhattisgarh Police, is that these surrendered extremists will prove to be an asset for intelligence gathering in fight against the Naxal menace.Sources say while 19 of the 79 extremists were released by the Chhattisgarh Police, each one of them has now been asked to sign documents that empower the police to enrol them as SPOs. “By turning these surrendered Naxals into SPOs, the administration has offered them Rs 1500 per month plus the right to keep weapons for defence,” said the sources. The surrender had been conducted amid much fanfare in the state capital and was claimed as the biggest ever success by the government against Naxals. However, the entire episode was soon shrouded in controversy after revelations that several of these so-called surrendered Naxals had been in fact picked up on mere charges of pasting posters, collecting firewood and preparing food for the rebels. The sources also pointed out that the incentives now being given are meant to keep them on the government’s side till the controversy subsides. “And the entire machinery is trying to win these people over even as 60 of these alleged Maoists are still languishing in judicial custody,” they added. Inspector General of Police (Bastar) R K Vij said this was part of the rehabilitation policy of the government. “There is nothing wrong if we want to get surrendered Naxals to our side. Everyone who surrenders is offered a choice of becoming an SPO and each case is scrutinised on an individual basis. If the local police deem that anyone may be helpful in their endeavour against the extremists they can freely recommend the person for the post,” the IG said. The fact that Vij himself is heading the probe into the “fake” surrender is raising further doubts over the intention of the government.
