The Adivasi Gonds in Adilabad on Monday paid homage to the victims of the infamous Indervelli police firing at the martyrs column outside the mandal headquarter village after 34 years of the incident having taken place. While maintaining a strict vigil over the proceedings, the police allowed over 100 Gonds to assemble near the place and perform the ritualistic puja.
The Indervelli police firing, which had left 62 dead according to independent estimates, had taken place on April 20, 1981. There has since been a demand from the Adivasi population of the district to permit them to pay homage on April 20 but no government in the unified State allowed it.
The police did impose prohibitory orders in the area as usual. The assemblage of Gonds however, was restricted to people arriving from villages nearby.
"We are extremely happy that this government has allowed us to pay homage to the victims of the police firing," observed Kanaka Lakke Rao, TRS vice president and Adivasi leader from Indervelli mandal. The jubilant Gonds later organised a traditional meal at Mutnur.
