Alleging that women are exploited in Maoist ranks, a pregnant woman Maoist cadre, Rina Mallik (25) alias Laxmi, surrendered in Rayagada district of Odisha on International Women’s Day on Wednesday.
For her, motherhood proved stronger than the lure of the gun. She made serious allegations of physical and mental torture of women cadres in Maoist camps, which, according to her, was a major reason behind her surrender.
She surrendered before Rayagada Superintendent of Police K. Siva Subramani at the Rayagada district police headquarter.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr Subramani said Rina was now five months pregnant and she took the decision to leave the outlawed Maoist outfit when Naxalite leaders demanded that she abort the child.
Rina is married to a Maoist cadre, Bhimlal Emla alias Bikash. According to her, in 2011 she had been compelled by the Maoist organisation to abort her pregnancy.
Her husband is still with the organisation. According to the SP, she would be provided medical care and rehabilitated as per the rehabilitation policy of the State government.
According to Rina, women cadres face extreme gender discrimination in Maoist camps. Women cadres are mostly mishandled by their commanders both physically and mentally, she alleged.
She said women are never given any importance in the organisation and were mostly used for sentry duties, cooking and cultural activities under the Jana Natya Mandali. They are not allowed to give their opinion and are not provided proper amount of food, cloth and other basic amenities. She said the State’s Maoists were considered inferior to those from AP and Chhattisgarh.
