December 10, 2008 • 8:20 am
The Times of India recently reported that the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) has stepped up efforts to boost recruitment by targeting children, mainly between the ages of 10-18.
Worried over the depleting cadre strength, the party’s Malkangiri division has decided to fill up the vacant slots in the platoons and area committees. [They] have threaten villagers and ask them to send a minimum of 10 children from each panchayat to join them.
Nearly 100 children fled to neighbouring villages of Sileru, Koraput, Jaipore and Viskhapatnam. “Some parents have sent their wards to remote places to safeguard them against the Maoist move,” the sources said.
See also this article.
Filed under: India , child soldiers, children, India, PLGA, War
According to this article, child soldiers, acting as messengers, police trackers, etc have been seen entering the “Red Corridor” in India, and on videos.
According to Malkangiri SP Gajbhiye, the child soldiers perform several tasks ranging from actual combat to the laying of mines and explosives, tracking combing operations and spying. They also serve as couriers for the Maoist groups. Sources said Maoists are especially targeting children from poor families by promising them a future to live in dignity. Young girls too join such groups to escape being forced into early marriages and other kinds of exploitation.
Not sure on the accuracy of that reporting, but according to page 170 in the 2008 report by Coalition to Stop the use of Child Soldiers,
No information was available on how many under-18s were serving in the armed forces. There were allegations that children were recruited by government-supported anti-Maoist village defense forces. Armed groups, including Maoists, and groups in Jammu and Kashmir and in the north-east, were reported to be using children. Children accused of membership of armed groups were detained in conflict areas.
It’s important to remember that child soldiers are not always fighting. Some are used as cooks, prostitutes, messengers, etc and should be considered just as victimized.
Filed under: India , child soldiers, children, current affairs, India, Kashmir, War, women, world
