The IB of the West Bengal police reports that women are being deployed in larger numbers as they are more efficient in avoiding police dragnets.
A DNA Special
KOLKATA: Woman power is on the rise among Maoist extremists in West Bengal. Since the appointment of 23-year-old Sabita Kumari as commander-in-chief of the Maoists, more women are being put in charge of action squads than ever before.
The Intelligence Branch (IB) of the West Bengal police reports that women are being deployed in larger numbers as they are more efficient in avoiding police dragnets, following inputs from central agencies that mega industrial projects may be the next target of the extremists.
Investigating officials are of the opinion that this new trend has evolved after 23-year old Sabita Kumari was unanimously elected as the commander-in-chief of the Maoist action squad of West Bengal.
Kumari was earlier in charge of the Maoist guerrilla outfit in Dantewada, Chattisgarh and has been given a new assignment in West Bengal, at a secret meeting of the Maoists at Bangriposi in Orissa.
According to IB intelligence, Kumari set about organising and strengthening action squads, in the three stronghold districts of Bankura, Puruliya and West Midnapore, immediately after being handed over charge. As a part of this strategy, she recruited female comrades from other states, all of whom received training in sophisticated weapons and explosives at a secret Maoist training centre in Jharkhand.
Most of them are sharp-shooters and are also trained in firing at moving targets. As per police records, Kumari too received her training at the same centre.
High level IB sources told DNA that the basic advantage of inducting women guerrillas from other states is that at the initial stage the police do not have adequate information about their details and movements.
Born in Prabira village of Jharkhand and a science graduate from Dultongunj College, Kumari joined the Maoists in 2000. She is on the Chattisgarh most-wanted list and several cases are registered against her, which include killing of police officers, political leaders and helping fellow Maoists escape from police lock-up.
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