Two CRPF women companies deployed in Darjeeling

KOLKATA: After being confined to the barracks in Junglemahal (left wing extremism affected areas) in Bengal for eight months, two all-women’s companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have finally been withdrawn from West Midnapore district to contain the violence that have erupted in Darjeeling, West Bengal. Citing the strength of the Mahila Morcha of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the women companies were requisitioned in Darjeeling, said people familiar with the matter. At present, seven CRPF companies are deployed in Darjeeling, of which three are made up of women.

The Mahila Morcha of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is led by Asha Gurung, wife of its president Bimal Gurung, and is known as one of the fiercest women’s wings of any political party. The Mahila Morcha, which is at the fore front of protest rallies, acts like a shield between the GJM protesters in Darjeeling.

Therefore, three companies of women’s batallion of the CRPF have been asked to maintain law and order in the area. The women companies are being led by Usha Kandolna, DIG (operations), CRPF. While two companies are stationed in barracks for more than eight months in West Bengal, the CRPF Mahila batallion had arrived in October last year, and are trained in anti-Maoist operations. The companies had received training for a year in Rajasthan following which they were deployed in Bengal. However, due to the unwillingness of the state government, the companies were not engaged in any work. This is the first time that the women personnel of CRPF have been given an assignment in Darjeeling.