We were sexually exploited by comrades: Maoist women
Surrendered Naxals say they were told to ‘shut up’ by seniors
Maoists who shout from the roof-top for taking up the cause of the poor are reported to have sexually exploited their women cadres.
The startling revelation was made by a local TV news channel in Orissa and also by surrendered women cadres in Bihar. Quoting Sabita Munda who surrendered with a young male cadre Rahul Juang, OTV news report said Maoist women cadres who raise their voice against were instructed by senior leaders to remain silent.
“Whenever the exploited female Maoists raised these matters with their senior male cadres they were immediately told to shut their mouth,” the 20-year-old tribal girl who was holding the rank of an “area commander” told the news channel.
Sabita had joined the naxal movement in 2007. She admitted that she had taken part in a number of major Maoists operations in the state during the last three years.
Sabita and Rahul will be rehabilitated as per the government’s schemes for the surrendered naxal cadres.
Abuse rampant
Meanwhile, two arrested hardcore naxalites, Geeta Murmu and Anju Murmu, said they were also sexually exploited in the rebel camps.
The sisters were apprehended by the Banka police in Bihar and produced before the CRPF Commandant Rakesh Ranjan and Banka DSP Sanjay Kumar where they narrated their story.
“Twice I had to undergo abortion. On protest, I was told to keep shut or else I would be shot dead,” said Geeta, who was the “mistress” of sub-zonal naxal commander Chirag Da for the last two years.
Geeta gave graphic details of how they (a group of 200 woman naxalites) were exploited in the dense forest areas of Belhar, which is considered to be a citadel of Maoists. “Some time back, my sister Anju Murmu too joined the naxal group. One night, she was on duty manning the borders of Banka and Jamui forest, when another naxalite Battu gagged and raped her.” On the basis of their statement, two cases have been lodged at Munger and Banka police station, while the Murmu sisters were sent to jail for their involvement in several naxal attacks in the state.
