The Hindu : National : Ready for talks with surrendered militants, says Buddhadeb

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 18, 2004

National

National

Ready for talks with surrendered militants, says Buddhadeb

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, AUG. 17. The West Bengal Government is ready for talks with the banned Kamtapur Liberation Organisation provided its members they lay down their arms and give up their violent ways, the Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, told a public meeting at Phansidewa near Siliguri in north Bengal earlier today. The Government would continue arranging for the rehabilitation of surrendered KLO militants, he added.

So far, about 60 KLO activists who have surrendered have been brought into the social mainstream, the Inspector-General of Police, North Bengal, V. Mishra, told The Hindu. They have been engaged in various self-employment schemes. The State administration "plans to rehabilitate another 300 or so in batches," he added.

Law & order reviewed

Mr. Bhattacharjee reviewed the law and order situation in the region with senior police officials. Though the KLO is in disarray with most of its leaders either killed in encounters with the police or having surrendered "there are between 15 and 20 hardcore militants still at large, most of them hiding in Bangladesh," according to Mr Mishra.

Described by the police as "spotters," some of the surrendered militants "still having effective links with the militants" are also being used as "informers" for which they are paid, a senior official said.

In contrast to the situation in north Bengal, a similar move to rehabilitate those willing to dissociate themselves from naxalite outfits such as the People's War and the Maoist Coordination Centre in south Bengal is yet to yield the desired result.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National