Cherial (Telangana): August 27 marks the 76th anniversary of a tragic yet pivotal event in India's history, the Bairanpally massacre. While the country celebrated its independence on August 15, 1947, the Telangana region struggled under the Nizam's rule for another 13 months. The Telangana armed struggle, a movement against Nizam's oppressive regime, reached a turning point with the brutal incident in Bairanpally on August 27, 1948.
On the fateful day, 96 brave villagers from Bairanpally were lined up and shot by the Razakars, a militia led by Nizam's army chief, Qasim Razvi. The massacre was a grim reminder of the violent resistance faced by those who dared to oppose the Nizam’s rule. Even today, the memory of these martyrs serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made during the struggle for Telangana's liberation
In 1948, the Razakars, led by Qasim Razvi, terrorized Telangana by establishing strongholds in villages like Maddur, Ladnur, Salakhapur, and Rebarti. They raided neighbouring villages, looting wealth and spreading fear. In response, young men from various villages formed defence forces, primarily centred in Bairanpally. Led by warriors Duburi Ramreddy, Mukunda Reddy, and Muralidhar Rao, these guerilla forces successfully resisted attacks and even reclaimed looted wealth from the Razakars near Bairanpally. This resistance only heightened the hostility of the Razakars towards the village.
In August 1948, the Razakars burned the villages of Lingapur and Dhulmitta before turning their attention toward Bairanpally. The villagers, expecting further attacks, fortified their village with a protective wall and built a high bastion at its centre. Despite two failed attempts by the Razakars to breach these defences, tragedy struck in the early hours of August 27th.