JOIN USThe 66 families in the village shifted to Chintamani following the incident. However, only 44 families are now staying at Mini Kambalapalli. Haunted by the memory of the massacre, the families have not intention of returning to their native.
Venkatarayappa, who lost his wife and three sons, Managamma who lost her husband and Subbamma whose husband was charred to death are now staying Mini Kambalapalli near Chintamani. “Neither we can stay here nor go there,”they refrain.
The government gave them a house and two cows. We were also allotted one acre ten guntas of land near Kurubur, about eight km away from Mini Kambalapallli.
While cows are no more, the land has as it is. Unable to till the land kilometres away from their place of dwelling, they have left the land fallow. So is their land in Kambalapalli. They have taken up sheep rearing and coolie to eke out livelihood. Some have let their houses out.
The community hall constructed for the refugees has fallen vacant. The exclusive police station has failed in ensuring any sense of safety. All the victims get monthly allowance of Rs 400. Except these three persons who have lost their family members, a few of the remaining own houses in Kambalapalli and Minikambalapalli as well.
However, they question the rationale of giving equal compensation for people who have lost everything and those who have lost nothing. “Neither can I bear the hardship nor can meet the loss,” Venkatarayappa summed up.