Four Lambada families moved into the abandoned houses

The ongoing conflict between Adivasis and the Lambadas notwithstanding, four houses in this tiny habitation of the aboriginal Kolam tribe have allegedly been occupied by farmers from the latter community illegally in Kerameri mandal of Kumram Bheem (KB) Asifabad district. The houses were part of the seven which were lying vacant following the migration of families to some other village in the summer of 2016.

The 10-house hilly habitation, a hamlet of Metta Pipri gram panchayat, is among the 12 villages located on the 22-km Hatti-Jodeghat road which had stood by the legendary Adivasi martyr Kumram Bheem during his struggle for land in the 1930s. However, migration of families has left only three of the 10 houses occupied at present by the families of the village headman, his son and brother."Taking advantage of the situation, four Lambada families moved into the abandoned houses," charged Rai Sidam Jangu, the Sarmedi or head of the Sakda Raj Gond advisory council in Kerameri mandal. "One of the families is even tilling the land which is actually earmarked to establish houses and is called 'gaon thana'," he added.

Mr. Jangu is one of the Adivasi elders, the others being Kumra Dhunde Rao, Sarmedi of Rasimetta in Jainoor mandal and leaders Kanaka Prabhakar, Chahkati Sham Rao and Kanaka Ambaji, who visited Kopaguda to ascertain facts about the illegal occupation. They were briefed about the events that have taken place in the last two years by Athram Koddu, Kopaguda village headman or patel about the illegal occupation of houses in his village.He told them that during the last kharif season, the Lambadas moved in and had even stolen about 70 kg of cotton he had harvested. He had lodged a complaint with the police regarding the theft.

Mr. Jangu was of the opinion that the Lambadas were using pressure tactics like stealing crop so that the Kolam families got scared. "These poor people usually abandon their village under such circumstances and migrate to other villages or establish a new one," he pointed out. The elders decided to lodge a complaint at Kerameri police station about the illegal occupation and the threats being issued by them.

Meanwhile, Karimnagar Range Deputy Inspector General of Police P. Promod Kumar confirmed occupation of the vacant houses by the Lambadas. He said KB Asifabad Superintendent of Police Kalmeshwar Singenawar had personally visited Kopaguda to find out facts. "Cases would be booked against the illegal occupants for trespass."