Tribal separatists in Tripura are using women cadres as consorts, forcing many
to flee their camps alleging sexual abuse, the police said.
A police spokesman said several woman cadres of the outlawed ATTF and the
National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) have fled their jungle hideouts
after being subjected to frequent sexual abuse by senior leaders.
"We have reports of at least a dozen female cadres of the ATTF and the NLFT
deserting their camps on similar grounds of sexual abuse and harassment by male
members of the outfits," the police spokesman said requesting anonymity.
Both the NLFT and the ATTF are separatist groups fighting for independent
tribal homelands in Tripura.
"All the 17 woman cadres staying in our camp were subjected to frequent sexual
assault by the leaders," Rajlaxmi said. "Instead of allowing us to go for
action, our commanders made us to cook food and do other chores of the camp
during the past four years."
The NLFT had faced a crisis recently with many male cadres deserting their
camps feeling lonely in the jungles.
"To stem the exodus, the NLFT leadership decided to raise a women's army by
recruiting 100 cadres into rebel ranks to keep the male members in good
humour," the police spokesman said.
"The militants generally lead a very lonely and hard life in the jungles and
once you have women there, it is anybody's guess as to what could happen."
But the move to recruit woman cadres by the NLFT backfired with couples falling
in love and deserting camps to marry.
"During the past year or so, a number of young militant couples have married
secretly and have either fled the camps or simply surrendered to security
forces," the official said.
Overwhelmed by desertions, the NLFT leadership has reportedly read the riot act
to its members.
"During investigations of some cadres, it was learned the NLFT leadership has
ordered its male ranks not to fall in love and have strictly forbidden physical
relationships with woman cadres," a senior intelligence official said.
