Telangana: Adivasis pay rich tributes to Indervelli martyrs in Adilabad

Members of the Indervelli Amaraveerula Ashaya Sadhana Samithi and the Tudum Debba observed the 44th anniversary of the tragedy when the tribals were shot dead

Adilabad: Adivasis paid rich tributes to martyrs of the Indervelli firing incident as they observed the 44th anniversary of the tragedy at the martyrs’ column in Indervelli mandal centre on Sunday.

Members of the Indervelli Amaraveerula Ashaya Sadhana Samithi and the Tudum Debba, a tribal rights organization, family members of the martyrs and hundreds of Adivasis from several parts of the district gathered at the martyrs’ column.

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As per 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 souls of the martyrs.

The tribals and kin of the victims arrived at the column by taking out processions from their villages to the venue. They presented Naivedyam (offering) to the martyrs who were shot dead on April 20, 1981. They performed special prayers at the Indradevi temple in the mandal centres. They recalled how gullible tribals were indiscriminately gunned down. They regretted that the incident still haunted them for over four decades.

The kin of the victims regretted that their families were thrown out of gear and their dreams were shattered with their breadwinners losing their lives in the firing. They recounted how the firing adversely impacted their lives. They lamented that they had not been extended any support from the government so far. They requested the government to provide jobs and financial aid to the kin.

Meanwhile, in-charge Minister Seethakka, Adilabad MP Godam Nagesh, MLC Dande Vittal, MLAs K Premsagar Rao, Vedma Bojju, and Kova Lakshmi, former legislator Athram Sakku, former MP Soyam Bapu Rao, Collector Rajarshi Shah, SP Akhil Mahajan, ITDA Utnoor project officer Khusbu Gupta, Utnoor ASP Kajal Singh, and leaders of tribal rights organisations visited the column and paid tributes to the martyrs.

Seethakka said that efforts were being made to develop the spot. A piece of land was already sanctioned for creating a memorial park. Steps were being taken to realise the demands of the tribals, she said.