Adilabad: Rich tributes offered to martyrs of Indervelli firing incident

Adivasis in Adilabad marked the 45th anniversary of the Indervelli firing incident by paying tributes to martyrs. Families of victims sought government support, including jobs and financial aid, stating that promises made to them remain unfulfilled

Adilabad: Torrid heat wave conditions failed to dampen the spirit of Adivasis who paid rich tributes to martyrs of the infamous firing incident, marking the 45th anniversary of the tragedy, termed as Telangana’s Jallianwala Bagh massacre, at the martyrs’ column in Indervelli mandal centre on Monday.

Family members of the martyrs and tribals from several parts of the erstwhile Adilabad district arrived at the column in processions. They presented Naivedyam (offering) to the martyrs who were shot dead on April 20, 1981. As per the traditions of the ethnic tribes, they broke coconuts and performed the customary ‘divve niruswal’ or lighting the lamp to pay homage after hoisting red-coloured flags representing the souls of the martyrs.

---

The tribals recalled how gullible tribals were indiscriminately gunned down. They regretted that the incident had been haunting them for over four decades. The kin of the victims said their families were thrown out of gear and their dreams were shattered as their breadwinners lost their lives in the firing. They recounted how the firing adversely impacted their lives.

The family members lamented that they were still waiting for support from the government for losing their breadwinners. They requested the government to provide jobs and financial aid to the kin. They said that the government had promised to recognise the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs, but had not fulfilled its word even after completing over two years in office.

Meanwhile, members of the Indervelli Amaraveerula Ashaya Sadhana Samithi and Tudum Debba, a tribal rights organisation, offered homage to the martyrs by placing flowers at the column.