Women Commandos: Catalysts for change, guardians of peace in India's red corridor
Danteshwari Fighters, Bastar's first all-woman anti-Maoist commando unit, has transformed into a potent weapon against insurgents. Starting with 16 members, this unit, known as the 'Ladake,' now boasts 97 volunteers, all ready to take a bullet for their comrades or communities. Recently, two members received out-of-turn promotions for their bravery in combat, underscoring the unit's effectiveness and commitment.
Maharashtra's Women Commandos: Guarding the Maoist Frontier
In Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, 11 women officers stand ready at a critical outpost near the Maoist frontier, demonstrating a strong resolve to counter insurgency. Trained in jungle warfare and weaponry, these officers are part of a 200-strong security force safeguarding a crucial intersection along the 'Red Corridor.' Their presence, close to the Maoist headquarters, signifies a strategic move to combat the insurgency effectively.
Head constable Sunaina Patel of Danteshwari Fighters — who would go on combat ops even when she was pregnant — is one of those promoted for gallantry. She and her colleague Reshma Kashyap gunned down two Maoists in Jallampal in Katekalyan in a fierce encounter.
«It was like stepping into the den of death, but we went in and completed the mission,» Sunaina told TOI. She has often felt the whizz of death passing by as a bullet snaps the air. Does it scare the young mother? «Once I was trapped in a Maoist ambush. It was a close one, but I narrowly escaped. When we are on a mission, we don't think of anything else,»
