Surrender package for Naxals announced

The Karnataka government on Tuesday persisted with its offer of peace by announcing a ‘‘district-level surrender package’&#14...

The Karnataka government on Tuesday persisted with its offer of peace by announcing a ‘‘district-level surrender package’’ for Naxalites willing to discard arms and return to the mainstream.

‘‘If you shed arms, then besides withdrawing cases the Government will also address your problems,’’ Chief Minister Dharam Singh said in his message to the Naxalites. He added that both the Deputy Commissioner and the SP were empowered under the surrender package to rehabilitate them.

Highlighting the important aspects of a high-level meeting between police and Forest Department officials, he said the government had adopted a twin strategy to end the Naxal menace in Karnataka.

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An Anti-Naxalite Force (ANF), and bomb detection and disposal squads would be set up in each Naxal-affected district. Besides empowering local SPs to invoke the Unlawful Activities Prevention (Amendment) Act 2004, the government also intends to introduce a special Act in the state, similar to the anti-Naxalite Acts in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Emphasising on the need for perfect co-ordination between police, forest and other departments, the Chief Minister urged police to step up their presence in remote villages.

‘‘The police must create an impression of security in the minds of residents,’’ he said. Dharam Singh regretted the fact that development projects worth Rs 3 crore, meant for the Naxal-infested areas, were not implemented due to some provisions in the Forest Act. ‘‘We have raised these problems with Shivraj Patil (Union Home Minister) and Chief Secretary Gore when he visited Bangalore,’’ the Chief Minister said.

On the ANF remaining leaderless, he played down the issue, saying that the incumbent officer was on a long leave and would return to assume charge.