WB renews appeal to Maoists to lay down arms

The West Bengal government on Wednesday made another appeal to Maoists to lay down arms and return to the mainstream.

"Those who are taking up guns and killing people should return to the mainstream and keep faith in democracy, which is the only alternative," Commerce and Industry minister Partha Chatterjee said at a party rally here to condemn Maoist violence. Stating that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already given a call to them to lay down arms so that the peace process could continue in junglemahal, Chatterjee said "those willing to surrender will be offered rehabilitation and a special package."

Stressing that development in junglemahal, comprising forested areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia would continue, he said there were places there where people survived on ant-eggs during the previous Left Front regime.