Chief minister Jagadish Shettar’s announcement last weekend of a week-long ceasefire from September 17 to 23 to facilitate the surrender of Naxalites has taken the state police by surprise, as none of the police officers seem to know the basis for such an announcement. “As of now, we have no information of any Maoist in the state wanting to lay down arms. Nobody has sent us any feelers. The announcement has taken us by surprise,” said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.
The Maoists generally send feelers to the police on surrender through their sympathisers months before they actually lay down arms, more so to bargain on the surrender package, which includes attractive economic incentives such as land and cash and an assurance from the government that cases against them would be withdrawn.
This information is privy to the Anti Naxal Force, district authorities and the state administration, including the police chief and the chief secretary. Surprisingly there’s no information available this time. “The talks (of surrender) may be at the top government level. We haven’t received any message from any Maoist wanting to surrender,” said another police officer. The earlier director-general and inspector-general of police A.R. Infant had stressed to the government to improve the surrender policy as it is not “appealing” to the extreme Left wing extremists, because of inadequate pecuniary compensation.
The Deputy Commissioner, Revenue plays a key role in identifying and registering the land in the name of the surrendered extremist. The SP is always in the know of information, because he is in charge of the law and order in the district.
Mr. Shettar has assured the Naxalites a safe passage and a package within the legal framework and as per the state’s surrender policy. The ANF, meanwhile, has called off all operations in the Naxal-affected districts for one week.