Official sources in the state home department said 120 to 130 criminals will surrender in Supaul and 70 to 80 criminals will surrender in Madhepura. "They would surrender in two separate function attended by Nitish Kumar" official told rediff.com.

These criminals have agreed to surrender before Nitish Kumar under the state government's new surrender and rehabilitation policy to turn Bihar, regarded as the most lawless state, a crime free state.

Nitish Kumar will be accompanied by three of his cabinet colleagues and top officials including chief secretary G S Kang, DGP A R Sinha and home secretary H C Sirohi.

Officials said government would provide special package after they would surrender. All those who will surrender would be given Rs 10,000 each. Besides, they would be provided land and house under Indira Awas Yojna.

This is going to be the first major surrender by criminals in recent years. Earlier in 1997 and 1989 criminals had surrendered before the then government but that proved fruitless as most of them again engaged in criminal activities after failure to provide them rehabilitation package.