India - the indian state wants to deploy a large force of women officers after receiving inputs that the number of women cadres in the naxal groups has ‘risen significantly’

State cops bat for women force to combat Red trend
The state police is beefing up infrastructure in Gadchiroli, the south-eastern corner of Maharashtra, with an aim to deploy a large force of women officers after receiving inputs that the number of women cadres in the naxal groups has ‘risen significantly’. Police sources said the cops’ recent encounters with naxals in the area have proved the inputs have been accurate. Just two months ago, security forces gunned down two women cadres near Hiddoor village of Etapalli sub-division in south Gadchiroli, but the naxals had the last laugh when the commandos were caught in a counter-attack, resulting in the death of one jawan.
A senior police officer said, “The naxals divide themselves in a group of 24, which is called a dalam. Till a year ago, each dalam would have two, or at the most three women cadres. We now find around a dozen women in each dalam. Our encounters with the rebels revealed the women are well versed in handling arms and explosives.” The Gadchiroli district is bounded by Chhattisgarh to the east, and Andhra Pradesh to the south and southwest. The district is part of the Red Corridor, a region that experiences considerable naxalite-Maoist insurgency. “The rebels are finding it tough to recruit men, who prefer to leave behind their families and migrate to cities. The women in these areas are easy targets. Lured by the promise of power and independence, many women have taken up arms,” the officer said.
No facilities for women cops
Though the state police have 700 women personnel at their disposal, the main problem in deploying them in jungle areas is the lack of facilities. “We are now trying to build infrastructure here. Our men can go deep inside the jungles, but women personnel find it difficult due to lack of facilities suited for their stay. We have now moved proposals and initiated the procedure to make them more comfortable,” he said. Inspector General (law and order) Deven Bharti said there was no data with the cops to confirm the rise of women cadres among the naxals. “We come across incidents of women being exploited by the rebel outfits, and hear such stories from time to time when some insurgents, who also include women, surrender,” he said.