Woman Maoist surrenders in West Bengal

Kolkata, Aug 28: A woman Maoist commander surrendered before the West Bangal police in Midnapore district alleging sexual exploitation by ultra leaders.

Shobha Mandi alias Sikha is the second Naxal to surrender after Bengal government announced a rehabilitation package for them.

"Shobha, who has five cases against her, has been keeping in touch with us for the last eight days and we succeeded in convincing her to surrender," West Midnapore Superintendent of Police, Manoj Kumar Verma said.

Mandi, the daughter of Jamandar Mandi from Koyerpahari in Bankura district joined the Maoist group in 2003 after Maoist leaders convinced her family that she would have a better life with them.

"We were very poor and they convinced us that I would have a better life. So I left home and joined a Maoist camp. But the experience turned out to be horrible," Mandi said.

"They tortured me mentally and physically in the forest and I was forced to sleep with Bikash and Kamal and others too," revealed Mandi.

When asked whether Kishenji exploited her, she replied, he is a top leader and was not given permission to talk to him.

The police assured her that she would be provided security so that she was not disturbed by the Maoists or the PCPA.

OneIndia News