Even as the Chhattisgarh government is trying to work out a strategy with the Maoists for the release of kidnapped Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon (32), the members of the proscribed outfit, CPI (Maoists), in Karnataka have demanded assurance of a “safe (read government) job” as a major pre-condition for their surrender to the government. It is reliably learnt that some top-ranking Maoists in the State, including B.G. Krishnamurthy and his wife, another dreaded Naxal leader Hosagadde Prabha - want to lay down arms and join the mainstream of society.
But they have told the government that they would come out only if they are assured of “safe passage and government jobs,” said a top-ranking officer. “They have demanded economic security and government jobs so that they can sustain themselves after surrender. The government is working on these lines. One proposal is to come out with an ordinance on the lines of the one issued by the Andhra Pradesh government for the welfare of the tribals,” said the officer.
Though the government announced its surrender policy a few years ago, there have been very few takers as it is not “appealing” to the Left wing extremists because of inadequate pecuniary compensation. Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) A.R. Infant, along with the chief of Internal Security Division, Additional Director General of Police Harshvardhan Raju, have rushed to Mangalore for a discussion on the surrender policy.