After Maoist leader Kishenji demanded release of its women cadres, who were recently arrested from the Lalgarh area in exchange for the release of abducted police officer, Atindra Nath Dutta, police on Wednesday said that 20 women Maoists are in their custody.

Kuldeep Singh, IG, West Range said: “We have 59 persons, including 20 women, in our custody. These include Maoists and their supporters.”

Among the 20 women, three to four are Maoist commanders. “All the women are in the age group of 30-40,” Singh added. All of them were arrested from the Jungle Mahal area in the past four months when the joint operation was launched in Lalgarh.

According to a senior CID official, 20-year-old Mala Kumari was picked up from Ghatberakerua in the Balarampur police station area for allegedly carrying pistols, landmine accessories and Maoist literature. An active member of the area committee and the action squad of the CPI (Maoists), Mala was a squad trainer, said police.

Another member of the Maoists’ action squad is Sumi Mandi. Fifty-year-old Sumi was arrested with arms from Kantapahari in September.

“We have arrested 14 women from Kantapahari in Lalgrah for shielding six Maoists in the Jhitka forest,” said Manoj Verma, SP, West Midnapore.

“Among the arrested women, six were Maoists and the rest were villagers who support and help the ultras,” added Verma.