Paying homage to the victims of the infamous Indervelli police firing on the day of anniversary of the incident itself has in a way fulfilled a long-standing desire of the Adivasi Gonds of Adilabad. Over 100 of them did that at ‘venda karra’, the traditional twin poles which act as a sacred memorial for the departed, erected near the martyrs’ column outside Indervelli mandal headquarter village on Monday.
This is the first time since the firing took place at the spot on April 20, 1981 that a government has permitted the Adivasis come close to the martyrs’ column which has eventually become a symbol of Adivasi protest against the injustices done to them. Hitherto, the Gonds used to pay homage at the venda karra five days after the anniversary day.
The Girijana Rythu Coolie Sangham, a frontal organisation of the People’s War Group of naxalites had given a call for a public meeting at the place.
The agenda of the meeting was to raise a strong demand for restoration of tribal lands which were encroached upon by non-tribals and put an end to exploitation of Adivasis.
The police had opened fire on an assemblage of Gonds on that fateful day leaving behind a pile of dead bodies. Though the government of the day conceded 13 as dead independent estimates had put the toll at 62.
“We are extremely happy that the government has allowed us to pay homage to the victims of the police firing at the very place where the police firing had taken place,” observed Kanaka Lakke Rao, Adivasi leader and vice-president of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti.
“This is like dream come true to our community,” he added.
Adivasis from different villages in Indervelli mandal had started assembling at the school close to the martyrs’ column since about 10 a.m.