In a bid to motivate Maoists to join the mainstream, the government is likely to come up with a new uniform surrender policy for all Left Wing Extremism-affected States, offering Rs. 5 lakh to anyone laying down a Light Machine Gun (LMG) and Rs. 3 lakh to those depositing an AK-47 assault rifle.
The issue was discussed at a meeting of Chief Secretaries and Directors- General of Police of the Naxal-affected States here on Wednesday.
The meeting was presided over by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
At present, different State governments follow different surrender policies and surrender packages that include varying financial incentives.
The policy, announced by the Home Ministry last year, offers an incentive of Rs. 15,000 for each deposited AK 47/56/74 rifle, Rs. 25,000 for each Rocket Propelled Grenade/sniper rifle and Rs. 3,000 for a pistol or revolver.
“There is need to review the existing surrender policy with bigger financial incentives. States have been asked to enhance the money while the Centre will also provide funds. We want uniformity for all States,” a senior Home Ministry official said.
At the meeting, States and paramilitary forces were asked to take all possible steps to ensure protection of human rights of every individual while carrying out anti-Maoist operations and countering Naxals' negative propaganda.
The Home Ministry also asked the States to conduct a thorough probe into allegations of abuse of power by security forces and follow Standard Operating Procedure while dealing with Naxals.
The meeting took stock of the anti-Naxal operations as well as the development programmes being initiated in the Maoist-hit areas.
There was concern in the Union government that many States were not able to complete many of the centrally-sponsored schemes, especially the road projects, despite provision of required funds by the Home Ministry.
The Home Ministry also indicated that it was keen on extending the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) being implemented in 78 worst Naxal-affected districts.
Chief Secretaries and DGPs or their representatives of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh attended the meeting.
