Bhairanpally – a tiny village became a symbol of defiance and dissent. The villagers who resisted the beastly Razakars lost one hundred of their fellows to the bullets of Nizam’s private army.
The lone authentic survivor, N. Mallaiah, who is around 90 years, says the Razakars were on their way to Karimnagar and his villagers did not allow them to march through. “They plundered everything. The armed men molested women, killed sheep and killed able-bodied men just for pleasure. They looted every village en route,” he explains the event that took place on August 27, 1948.
When the people of Bhairanpally resisted and wanted the Razakars to take another way, the latter raided. After two or three attempts, they succeeded with the help of Nizam’s military.
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“Many of us climbed onto the mud fort which has been there since times immemorial. We took shelter and fired at the Razakars. We killed some of them and that enraged Kazim Rizvi who was controlling the Razakars,” said Dasari Pullaiah, who was a child then, recalling his memories.
Mallaiah who was in early twenties, related a very pathetic tale. He still carries the wound inflicted by the bullet fired by Razakars.
“To save bullets, they lined us up and shot. The bullet missed me and went through my left hand. Thinking that I am dead, they threw me on the heap of dead,” he said sharing his woes.
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Over 70 killed on single day
His left hand became defunct and moves 360 degrees. He is the lone survivor of that massacre in the village. Many who are over 75 years try to recall some memories as teens then. According to them, on that single day, the Razakars killed over 70 people in the village.
The whole village burst into celebrations on September 17, 1948, when the newly independent India’s government launched police action and merged the Nizam State into Indian Union.
The historic mud fort still stands as witness. The people still carry those sad memories and the wounds reminding them of the tragedy.