Tribals of Telangana pay tribute to the martyrs of Indraveli

2023-04-20 21:09:24

Hyderabad, (IANS) | Emotional tributes were paid to the tribals who died in police firing 42 years ago while fighting for their rights at Indraveli in Telangana’s Adilabad district. Adivasi tribals or tribals and leaders of various political parties paid tribute to the martyrs at the Martyrs’ Pillar in Indraveli on Thursday.

It was on this day in 1981 that 13 tribals were killed in police firing when they gathered in Indraveli to protest against the call given by the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Kuli Sangham to fight for their land rights.

The police opened fire when a constable was allegedly killed by an angry mob. According to official records, 13 tribals, all Raj Gonds from villages around the Indraveli mandal centre, were killed in the crossfire. However, rights groups put the death toll at 60.

Till a few years ago, tribals were not allowed to hold gatherings in Indraveli to pay homage to the martyrs. The tribals, members of the Indraveli Amarveerula Asha Sadhana Samiti and Tudum Debba, a tribal rights organization, paid floral tributes in a traditional way on Thursday.

Adilabad MP Soyam Bapu Rao, Mulugu MLA Sitakka and YSR Telangana Party leader Y.S. Sharmila paid homage at the martyr’s column. Sitakka tweeted that the Indraveli tribal hero is immortal. He described Indraveli as a place of inspiration.

He wrote, many people lost their lives to get back our land and freedom, still we are fighting for our land and freedom, we remember the fighters and I pray for the peace of their souls.

Sharmila said she paid tributes to the martyrs of Indraveli who laid down their lives fighting for land rights and against the exploitative system. He said it was another Jallianwala Bagh.

We will continue to fight for the rights of tribals with the spirit of martyrs, he said.

–IANS