Draft policy proposes parole for jailed Maos in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh is formulating a policy for relief, rehabilitation, and surrender of Left-wing insurgents that includes a provision for one-year parole for jailed Maos, who provide information for wiping out rebels from a particular region. The policy has been drafted amid an increase in Mao activity, especially in Mandla, Dindori, and Balaghat bordering Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.A home department officer, who did not wish to be named, said the parole provision is not in Mao surrender policies of Left-wing insurgency-hit states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra. He added the draft of the policy will soon be presented before the Cabinet for approval.“A first of its kind provision will give chance to convicted Mao to get parole of one year sharing information regarding top Mao leaders, their movement, their diversification plans, sources of finance and arms that can help the forces to eliminate rebels from a particular area,” says the draft, a copy of which HT has seen.The state government has powers to grant parole to convicts and a home secretary-led committee decides such applications.The policy says the drict and state-level committees will be formed to decide whether a Mao is eligible for surrender or not. “The surrendered Maos will get ₹5 lakh or money equivalent to reward on their arrest, whichever is higher, and also ₹6,000 monthly for 36 months for professional training to restart their lives. Unmarried Maos will get ₹25,000 for weddings. They will get health insurance under Ayushman Bharat Scheme, a house under Pradhan Mantri Awas Scheme, and a ration under food security scheme,” the draft policy says.The surrendered Maos can be inducted into the intelligence wing of the state police. “If they share some important information related to Maos or help the police eliminate them, superintendents of police can recommend names for the posts of constable,” the policy says.The families of people Maos kill will be eligible to ₹5 lakh compensation while those of security personnel killed in anti-Mao operations ₹20 lakh.Inspector general (anti-Mao operations) Sajid Farid Shapu said seven Maos carrying rewards on their heads have surrendered in other states over the last year in the absence of any policy in Madhya Pradesh. “So, we have decided to introduce the policy, which has been drafted to give a second chance to Maos including convicted ones.”Former Madhya Pradesh advocate general Ravi Nandan Dubey called the parole provision a great step towards reforming convicted Maos. “But the state government should make strict eligibility criteria.”Former police officer R K Vij, who headed anti-Mao operations in Chhattisgarh, said police try to get as much as possible information after the arrest of a Mao. “Conviction of Maos takes a long time. Maos change their base and strategy very fast. So, it would be difficult to get a major breakthrough from convicted Maos.”Vij added there were not any top Mao leaders in Madhya Pradesh either. “Therefore, only lower cadre might surrender. Top leaders are mostly from Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.”Since 2017, seven incidents of Mao violence and exchanges of fire have been reported in Madhya Pradesh. Seven Maos were killed in a gunbattle while a rebel was arrested. Maos have also killed two people over the last three years, according to police data.

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