Fighting naxalism: Untold stories of female Bastar fighters

Raipur Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai participated in a dialogue programme organised in Jawanga, Dantewada district, to commemorate International Women’s Day. He interacted with female security personnel of the Bastar Fighters and Danteshwari Fighters. They shared their life experiences. During the session, Rajkumari shared that she decided to become a police commando after feeling suffocated by the Naxal ideology. Sumitra shared that she was once a naxal, but she realised her mistake and decided to surrender.

Rajkumari further shared that she was married at the age of 17 against her will and did not want to get married. Consequently, she joined the Naxalite group. She mentioned that she soon started to distance herself from the naxalite ideology as she repeatedly faced insecurity and food shortages while staying with them. She planned to escape with her three friends from the Naxal group, as she had witnessed how girls were killed for refusing to marry Naxals. Eventually, she surrendered to the police, taking advantage of the surrender policy, and now serves as a police commando. Later, her three friends also fled.

Sumitra, who left the Naxal group to join the police force, revealed that she was once a Naxalite. A reward of Rs 5 lakh was announced on her head. She was actively involved in Naxal activities from 2004 to 2018. During this time, she began to realise the hollowness of Naxal ideology. Through the state government’s good policies and the efforts of the police, she understood that surrendering as per the government’s policy is very beneficial. Eventually, she surrendered, and as per the surrender policy, she was able to find employment in the police force.

Upon hearing the stories of Rajkumari and Sumitra, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai remarked, “I salute both of you. You did not lose your courage, even in difficult circumstances”.

Addressing Rajkumari, the Chief Minister said, “You became a Naxalite only because you did not want to get married at a young age. Unfortunately, the practice of child marriage persists in society today. But this will not continue. Our government has decided to launch a campaign to completely eradicate the practice of child marriage in Chhattisgarh.”

Chief Minister Sai interacted with Sumitra and said, “You spent 15 years as a Naxalite, scouring the forests, and now you are in the police force; rather, you are a Danteshwari fighter. I often hear that women in Naxalite organisations are not allowed to live a normal married life; they are forcibly prevented from getting pregnant. Despite enduring such exploitation, you have Mata Durga within you, or, let’s say, Goddess Mata Danteshwari, which not only keeps your feminine power alive but also continues to nurture it. Even after 15 years, the energy within you to become a warrior remained, and you became a Danteshwari fighter. I salute your energy. This same energy makes women unique”. Chief Minister praised the courage and dedication of Rajkumari and Sumitra