In 1960, Albanian peasant Rrustë Gradica or Rrustem Dibrani (Rrustem Gradica), from the village of Gradicë in Kosovo, spoke with his mother. She asked him to go at the local mill to grind. He then began his journey with his friends. As Rrustemi entered the village of Carravadicë or Cervkena Vodica, inhabited by Serbs, he was not appreciated. His friends went to Obiliq, and Rrustemi stood at the water mill waiting for his turn.

As he waited, a group of Serbian children were playing nearby. One of the children belonged to the Rade, a Serbian local and businessman. As the children came closer to Rrustemi, they stood in his way as he tried to enter the mill. He gently and without malice pushed the Serb child to the side. The child then went home and lied to the parents that “an Albanian had beaten him”. Rade, the father, then wielded an iron and went to the mill where Rrustemi was grinding. Rade then assaulted Rrustemi, and blood poured out of his head.

Rrustemi then looked for something in his belt, and found a small knife. He proceeded to defend himself by stabbing Rade to death. This naturally caused chaos at the mill, and Rrustem Gradica was quickly surrounded by a Serbian mob. A Serbian woman then threw hot water on Rrustemi. There were many Albanians present as Rrustemi tried to defend himself. He then yelled at the Albanians watching “Please throw me an axe”.

The owner of the mill, present during the chaos, told Rrustemi to leave because the Serbian mob could cut him down. Rrust Dibrani then said “Where have you heard that the Albanian from Drenica is leaving? Let them cut me up, but leaving is not heard of around here”. Rrustemi managed to kill several of the Serbian attackers and wound many others. Eventually the mob increased to 300, armed with axes and forks, climbing the mill, trying to attack Rrustemi. The Serbian village attack lasted 6 hours, and none of the Serbs dared to get close to Rrustemi as long as he had his knife. The Serbian women who participated in the assault are said to have thrown pepper in his eyes.

The Albanians presentthere were too frightened to intervene and help Rrustemi, because it was during the time of Rankovic, head of the Yugoslav Secret Service who oppressed Albanians. Rrustem Gradica was then struck down and killed. However the Serbs of Carravadicë were not satisfied. They decapitated his head, and cut off his arms and legs were. The Yugoslav police then grabbed Rrustem Gradica and sent him to his mother, who began to wail and mourn the death of her son.

Source

Information gathered from Albanian folklore and relatives.