Women troops to fight Maoists

New Delhi: The CRPF, India’s largest paramilitary force, has for the first time deployed special women commando units deep inside the jungle for active operations against Naxalites.

Sources said the CRPF recently sent two women squads to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with male colleagues, not only living at the ground locations but also conducting patrols.

One unit is undertaking operations in the Bastar belt of Chhattisgarh, while the other is based at an undisclosed location in neighbouring Jharkhand.

Two contingents, of platoon strength (around 35 women in each), have been deployed after basic living facilities for women were set up at locations in these two Maoist-affected states.

“This is the first time women have been deployed in active operations in a high-risk, sensitive area where contact with the enemy is regular and very dynamic. The squads were placed about a fortnight back,” a source said.

There are specific benefits in deploying women in Naxal-hit areas. They can interact with local women, that helps not only in gathering intelligence, it also helps bring the forces closer to the villagers.