Dahaban (Rolpa), March 21:

The number of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel belonging to Dalit and indigenous communities is quite high in the Maoists’ fifth division headquarters in Dahaban of Rolpa.

“Dalits and indigenous people are the ones who have been exploited the most. That is why the Maoist PLA comprises mostly of youths belonging to these communities,” division commander Sharad said.

Mostly PLA personnel from Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan, Pyuthan and Dang districts are putting up in the fifth division. “Most of those killed during the people’s war were Dalits and indigenous people,” Sharad said.

Stating that the headquarters didn’t have exact statistics on the number of PLA belonging to Dalit and indigenous communities, Sharad said: “However, Dalits and Janajatis exceed the number of the Brahmins and Chettris in the PLA.”

There are a significant number of women in the Maoist army. “There are 33 to 37 per cent women among the PLA personnel putting up in the main camp and three sub camps under the fifth division, deputy commander Bibek said.