Over 70% Maoist cadres are forcibly recruited as children without the Consent of their parents. They are mostly roped in at 15 and given a gun at 17, says a survey conducted by Bastar Police among surrendered Maoists.
The recruited kids are not allowed to go Home for years, some never, not even if any of their parents dies, say police. Whats more, a shocking 25% of them end up getting forcibly sterilised in youth, says the survey.
There are 12 Maoists recruitment hotspots identified by police villages from where at least 10 cadres have joined PLGA. The surrendered cadres shared heart-breaking stories of the hardship and pain they underwent as children in an insurgent outfit. They were banned from visiting home or meeting parents for years. They werent allowed to go home even if a parent died, not to speak of visiting families for festivals.