The Centre has directed state governments and Delhi police to provide adequate security to the Members of Parliament facing threats from Naxals, Lok Sabha was informed today.
"Instructions have been issued to Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states and... Delhi police to provide adequate security to MPs facing security threats from (Naxal) outfits," Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh told the House in a written reply.
In reply to another question, Singh said Maoists were now forcibly inducting female cadre into their ranks.
"The LWE groups, particularly CPI(Maoist), forcibly recruit female cadre, including minor girls, from the tribal belts of Naxal-affected areas in various parts of the country.
"No data on the exact number of female cadre with CPI (Maoist) is available. However, in recent incidents of Naxal attacks, participation of a substantial number of female cadre has been observed. A large number of female cadres have also died in exchanges of fire with the security forces," he said.
"Field reports from security forces indicate that female cadre are tactically placed in Naxal armed units to protect male cadre and leaders during exchanges with security forces, Singh added.
"The presence of a large number of women cadre in the CPI(Maoist) armed units is a matter of serious concern.
"Many of them, who have surrendered... Have complained of sexual exploitation by their male cadre. Such instances have been reported in the national and local media at frequent intervals," he said.
