Gender violence in conflict zones: A story from Gadchiroli, Maharashtra

Based on a story of a life and death of a tribal woman in a village caught between the crossfire of Maoist insurgency and brutal police repression, this paper examines the consequent escalation of domestic violence and the silencing of women. Located in Gadchiroli, one of the poorest districts of Maharashtra, the narrative explores the sequence of events leading to the death of a middle-aged woman against the background of the socio-economic and political climate affecting this forest community. This narrative uncovers how gender relations are shaped by the prevailing socio-political struggles and by the village leadership.  It also hopes to highlight one of the central dilemmas of feminist politics of accommodating different cultural practices without compromising on its core commitment to the realization of gender equality.