West Midnapore (West Bengal), Jan 12 (IANS) Responding to the rehabilitation package announced by the West Bengal government, four Maoists surrendered before Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here Thursday.

Lambodar Majhi, Bhajohari Mahato, Sukhdeb Mahato and Karan surrendered before Banerjee who was sitting on a dais watching a youth festival organised at the Jhargram stadium in the district.

Following the announcement of a revised surrender-cum-rehabilitation package under which a surrendering Maoist would get a monthly stipend of Rs.2,000 for three years while the state government would make a fixed deposit of Rs.1.5 lakh for three years, 10 rebels have so far given up arms excluding the four who surrendered Thursday.

Banerjee gave out papers of Rs.1.5 lakh fixed deposit each to the 10 rebels who had surrendered earlier.

She also gave the Vivek Gram Puraskar to seven villages in Junglemahal (forested parts of western part of the state where the rebels have a stronghold) for ‘resisting’ the Maoists.

“I am giving this award to the people of seven villages who showed courage to resist the Maoists and help the government bring back peace,” Banerjee said after handing out a cheque of Rs.5 lakh each to the headmen of the seven villages.

“I want peace to stay here and those who will help in bringing peace will be rewarded,” she added.

The chief minister who is in the district to review administrative work in the area also gave Rs.1 lakh each to 33 families from Junglemahal who lost their dear ones to Maoist violence.