Anti-Naxal women forces will take 'Red Terror' head on in CG

The men in khaki will no longer have to battle Naxals alone in the hinterland of Chattisgarh as the newly constituted well trained two gutsy and valiant groups of women commandoes are here to walk shoulder-to-shoulder and share the burden with them. 'Danteshwari fighters' and 'Bastaria Battalion' women commandos created by Chhattisgarh government and CRPF respectively, are ready to take on Naxals head on.

Dantewada: 'Danteshwari fighters' and 'Bastaria Battalion' two specially trained anti-naxal women commando forces here for the first time is ready to counter the onslaught of red terror in Chhattisgarh's Dantewara. After their recent success on Dantewada-Sukma border area, these women commandos have attained greater confidence and are rearing up to go after Maoists with full might. Earlier, in the hinterland of Dantewada, only men in khakis had the burden of taking on the subversive activities of Maoists.

Danteshwari fighters, prepared by the state police as a special squad of 30 women commandos will join the 'Bastaria Women Battalion' of the CRPF to take the challenge directly in Naxalites' stronghold. Initially, both groups of women commandos have been constituted of 30 members each. Altogether the 60 women commandos are being headed by two Deputy Superintendent of Police trank officers, DSP Dineshwari and DSP Astha.

A year ago, the CRPF constituted a separate company Bastaria Battalion of local youths to fight Maoists in Bastar. After training, 30 women from the team, having insights into Maoists activities and well aware of the water, forest and land locations, were picked. After completing their training in the plains, all the female commandos will return Dantewada.

The name of the Danteshwari Fighters team is named after the goddess Danteshwari, the deity of Bastar. The responsibility of training, preparing and commissioning of this combat team has been entrusted upon woman police officer DSP Dineshwari Nand. The 30 female commandos also include five surrendered women Maoists.

Officials say that the purpose of women commando is not only to fight against Maoists but also to promote women empowerment and also provide employment for the girls of Naxal-affected areas.

The CRPF's AC Aastha Bharadwaj says that including such girls in the team will bring big success on the Naxal front. "They have seen the atrocities unleashed by the Maoists with their own eyes since childhood, their houses being broken and brutal killings by the Maoists. Many of these women have faced Naxal attacks and brutalities. Father and husbands were killed by the Maoists. Now, these women have agreed to take a fight against the Maoists to take revenge," she said.