Women Cadres- The New Front-line of Indian Maoist Groups

Bangalore:  Maoists or Naxalites, India’s largest internal security threats, are now recruiting more women not just as cooks, motivators or to act as shields for male members, but as cadres for military operations. There is a considerable rise in the number of Maoist women cadres who are involved in recent attacks and encounters with the security forces, reports Rakhi Chakrabarty for Times of India.

Around 30 percent of the total Maoist cadres are constituted by women members.  As per the source, almost one-third of the Maoists killed this year by the security forces are women where 23 were declared to be women out of the 65 Maoists killed.

RPN Singh, Minister of State for Home Affairs said, "In recent incidents of Naxalite attacks, participation of a substantial number of female cadres has been observed. A large number of female cadres have also died in exchanges of fire with the security forces," reports TOI.

"The women cadres are tactically placed in armed units of the rebels to protect male cadres and leaders during exchange of fire with the security forces. Maoists forcibly recruit women cadres, including minor girls from tribal areas, in their ranks," added Singh.

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