Mamata hands out job cards, cycles to surrendered Maoists

Medinipur: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee handed out jobs cards, cycles and scooters to surrendered Maoists in the state’s Medinipur region over the weekend.

She also addressed local people and also gave away cash rewards and certificates to former Maoists in bid to encourage the ultras to give up arms. During the event two Maoists surrendered with arms before Banerjee amid assurances of proper rehabilitation by the state government. Meanwhile, she also distributed awards to athletes, archers and members of the football clubs from the Jangalmahal region of Medinipur, believed to be a stronghold of the Maoist movement. Banerjee declared that jobs would be announced in the area through the employment exchange, and thus, prompt tribal youth not to be misled by the rebels and later be disillusioned. The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of millions of landless people and marginal farmers. However, the government has termed them as India`s main internal security threat and an obstacle to higher growth and more jobs in Asia’s third-largest economy. ANI