New headache for cops: Women ultras

Women Maoists in Andhra Pradesh are training their Orissa counterparts to make them “potent weapons” against police, say officers involved in anti-Maoist operations on the Orissa-Andhra border. 

With support from Andhra cadres, the number of women extremists in Orissa is swelling and this could become a headache for CRPF, Andhra Police as well as Orissa Police in the coming days.

The development came to light when police gunned down three women Maoists in the dense forest of Rayagada district in Orissa last week. All three were in uniform and carrying sophisticated weapons. They, with male comrades, provided a lot of resistance to special commandos. “The three women Maoists who were gunned down were from Andhra,” south-western DIG Sanjeeb Panda said, adding that in tribal society, women played a dominant role and they were doing the same in the Maoist rebellion as well.

Admitting the influence of Andhra women Maoists on those in Orissa, inspector general of police (operations) Sanjeev Marik said Andhra women cadres were teaching Orissa women Maoists different tricks.

“New women recruits are used tactfully. Most of these innocent women are operated on for family planning without their knowledge. They can marry, but not without prior permission of the central committee of Maoists and with riders. Those who defy are punished,” he said, adding, “Such is their influence in the area that they have asked villagers in Malkangiri district to send their daughters for Maoist activities.”

Another police officer said, “Women Maoists are almost as skilled and dangerous as their male counterparts. In fact, they are more trustworthy and seldom desert the organisation.” As per a strategy, women cadres have been spilt into two groups - one gathers intelligence and cooks foods, while the other carries out attacks on state machinery. Those who gather intelligence are disguised as beggars or wood collectors and roam the streets with their children. They conduct reconnaissance and help zero in on targets for attacks.

“In the Nayagraha and Korapur armoury loots, women Maoists played a major role,” a senior police office said, adding that it was difficult to identify tribal women Maoists. “Their innocent faces betray you.”

Maoists have a system for recruiting girl spies. They identify families where parents are unable to provide a square meal to children and pick up a girl with a revolutionary mind. Women fighters are mostly from families who sympathise with Maoists.