Villagers tender apology to Chhattisgarh Erraboru tribals

Warangal, July 20 (UNI) The people of Taralapally village in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh tendered an apology to the tribals of Chhattisgarh state, in particular to the Erraboru villagers, in a novel manner here today.

The villagers also burnt an effigy of the naxal leader Muppidi Sambaiah alias Jangu, who they claim carried out the massacre.

Several people from the village and the neighbouring Battupally and Madikonda villages took out a rally from their villages to the district collectorate and staged a 'rasta-roko', condemning the indiscriminate killing of innocent tribals.

The villagers led by Sarpanch Srinivas, Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) member Madhusudan Reddy, Battupalli village sarpanch Mahender and others later told newspersons that among the Maoists who raided the Erraboru village was one Muppidi Sambaiah alias Jangu, belonging to Taralapally village.

They said they felt ashamed of the Maoist. Holding him responsible for the massacre, they also blamed him for all violent acts of naxals in Chhattisgarh.

They also recalled that naxals had also killed innocent people here in the name of revolution but achieved nothing.

Now they are out to do the same in Chhattisgarh, a villager, Ch Ramesh who was a one time friend of Maoist leader Muppidi Sambaiah said.

The villagers, sporting placards, also raised slogans against the naxal groups.

K Laxmi, mother of another Maoist leader Kothapalli Sambaiah said due to Muppidi Sambaiah, her son left them and joined the movement.

The revolutionary movement only separated them from their dear son and brought them untold misery.

''We have been listening to the naxals for long. They say they would bring good life and happiness to people. But they were only killing people and damaging properties. One day I will die without seeing my son'', she lamented.

UNI ASJ VV MIR HT2110