Updated: April 02, 2013, 12:00 AM
In pictures: The Red Brigade in India
Young women from the Red Brigade walk through the Midiyav slum in the city of Lucknow. Their leader, Usha Vishwakarma, 25, is in white. The Red Brigade was formed in November 2010 to fight back against a growing number of sexual attacks on women in the Madiyav area of the city of Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh state, India. The group of young women wear distinctive red and black salwar kameez. Most have been victims of sexual assault and have resolved that they will take no more. They take direct action against their tormentors and now when a local man steps out of line, he can expect a visit from the Red Brigade and a thrashing.
The group of young women wear distinctive red and black salwar kameez. Most have been victims of sexual assault and have resolved that they will take no more. They take direct action against their tormentors and now when a local man steps out of line, he ???
Young women from the Red Brigade play on swings in a public park in the city of Lucknow. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Young women from the Red Brigade play on swings in a public park in the city of Lucknow. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Young women from the Red Brigade take part in a martial arts training session on the roof of a building in the city of Lucknow. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Young women from the Red Brigade take part in a martial arts training session on the roof of a building in the city of Lucknow. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Young women from the Red Brigade take part in a martial arts training session on the roof of a building in the city of Lucknow. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
The leader of the Red Brigade, Usha Vishwakarma, 25, is in white. The group was formed in November 2010 to fight back against a growing number of sexual attacks on women in the Madiyav area of the city of Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh state, India.Gethin Cham???
The leader of the Red Brigade, Usha Vishwakarma, 25, is in white. The group was formed in November 2010 to fight back against a growing number of sexual attacks on women in the Madiyav area of the city of Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh state, India.Gethin Cham???
The leader of the Red Brigade, Usha Vishwakarma, 25, is in white. The group was formed in November 2010 to fight back against a growing number of sexual attacks on women in the Madiyav area of the city of Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh state, India.Gethin Cham???
Preeti Verma, 17, is a member of the Red Brigade. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Nargis, 11, the youngest member of the Red Brigade (left) with other members of the group in a taxi on the way back from martial arts training in Lucknow. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
A lane in the Madiyav slum, Lucknow, home of the red Brigade. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
The small classroom where Usha Vishwakarma, 25, teaches children through her Bal Manch group. She also runs the Red Brigade, which was formed in November 2010 to fight back against a growing number of sexual attacks on women in the Madiyav area of the cit???
Signs and posters in the home of Usha Vishwakarma, 25, the leader of thre Red Brigade. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Members of the Red Brigade chat in the house of their leader, Usha Vishwakarma. (From left) Laxmi, 16, Pooja Vishwakarma, 18, Kajil Sharma, 15, Afreen Khan, 16, Archana Kumari, 14, Usha Vishwakarma, 25. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Young women from the Red Brigade take part in a martial arts training session on the roof of a building in the city of Lucknow. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Young women from the Red Brigade take part in a martial arts training session on the roof of a building in the city of Lucknow. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Pooja Vishwakarma, 18, a captain in the Red Brigade, during martial arts training in Lucknow. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Young women from the Red Brigade take part in a martial arts training session on the roof of a building in the city of Lucknow. Gethin Chamberlain for The National
Young women from the Red Brigade walk through the Midiyav slum in the city of Lucknow. Their leader, Usha Vishwakarma, 25, is front left. Gethin Chamberlain for The National