Who was Phoolan Devi? Why was she called the Bandit Queen?

Phoolan Devi was born on August 10, 1963, into a poor family in Jalaun district in Uttar Pradesh. From a young age, she faced both caste discrimination and poverty.
 

At the age of 11, Phoolan Devi was married to an older man who mistreated her. She ran away from her in-laws’ house.
 

At 15, she was raped by the Thakurs of her village. In response, she joined a gang of dacoits, seeking revenge against those who had wronged her.
 

Phoolan Devi earned the title ‘Queen of Chambal’ due to her formidable reputation. 
 

She is particularly remembered for the Behmai massacre of 1981, during which she killed 22 Thakur men. This act was carried out as retribution for her rape.
 

Following the Behmai massacre, she gained widespread notoriety throughout the country and was dubbed the ‘Bandit Queen.’
 

In 1983, Phoolan Devi surrendered to the Uttar Pradesh government and was imprisoned on charges of murder, robbery, and other offenses. She was released from jail in 1994.
 

After her release from jail, Phoolan Devi entered politics with the Samajwadi Party. In 1996, she won the Lok Sabha elections from Mirzapur and became a Member of Parliament.