Bangalore: Karnataka’s government has hiked the compensation for Naxals willing to surrender, lay down arms and join mainstream society.
Under the newly modified surrender package scheme, extremists surrendering weapons like AK 47s, AK 56s or AK 74 guns will get Rs 30,000 as compensation instead of the earlier stipulated Rs15,000, while the surrender of machine guns will entail compensation of Rs 50,000 instead of Rs 25,000 and pistols and revolvers will get Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 3000.
Additionally, those surrendering satellite phones will receive a compensation of Rs 40,000 instead of Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 for VHF or HF Communication sets instead of Rs 5000.
Offering leads will earn the surrendering Naxals additional incentives.
The revised compensation packages were announced by the Karnataka home department in a recent order.
The state government has also modified the state level committee that will identify recipients of the special compensation packages. Freedom fighter HS Doreswamy, senior advocate AK Subbaiah, senior journalist Gowri Lankesh have now been selected as members of the committee.
The Home Secretary, DG&IGP, Chief of state intelligence, head of Internal Security Division (ISD) will also be the members of the committee while the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Anti-Naxal Force) will play the role of the convener of the committee.
The government has also expressed intent of setting up Fast Track Courts (FTC’s) for speedy trial of cases pending against left-wing extremists who choose to surrender.
