Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Hundreds of people waited outside the historic Darbar Hall here to pay homage to former Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader V S Achuthanandan on Tuesday, a day after he breathed his last at the age of 101.
The mortal remains of the veteran were taken in a procession from his son's residence in the morning to the Hall inside the Secretariat for official public homage.
A large number of party workers accompanied the ambulance. Several others followed in their vehicles.
Thousands of people, including women, the elderly, and students, paid their last respects to Achuthanandan when his body was kept at the old AKG Centre on Monday night. By around 11.45 pm, the body was shifted to his son's residence in the city and kept there till the morning.
Even at midnight, a large number of people gathered in front of the house to catch a glimpse of their beloved leader.
There was no public homage at the house, party sources said.
By Tuesday afternoon, Achuthanandan's body would be taken in a procession to Alappuzha, his hometown.
His cremation will take place at the public crematorium in Alappuzha Valiya Chudukadu by Wednesday noon, party sources added.
The government has declared a public holiday on Tuesday and a three-day mourning period as a mark of respect for the former chief minister.
The veteran leader died at 3:20 pm on Monday while undergoing treatment in the critical care unit of Pattom SUT Hospital.
Achuthanandan had been receiving treatment since June 23, following a cardiac arrest.
A founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Achuthanandan was a lifelong champion of workers' rights, land reforms, and social justice.
He served as Kerala's Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011 and was elected to the state assembly seven times, serving three terms as Leader of the Opposition.
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Sindhanur: A 12-year-old boy was killed and his mother seriously injured after a man allegedly attacked his elder brother’s family with a knife over a property dispute in Alabanur village of Sindhanur taluk on Wednesday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Nagaraj Siddappa Alvi (12). Amrutha Siddappa (42) sustained serious injuries in the attack. Police said the accused is Basavaraj Rudrappa Alvi, the younger brother of the victim boy’s father.
According to preliminary information, Basavaraj had arrived in Alabanur village on Tuesday and was staying at his mother’s house.
On Wednesday morning, he allegedly went to the house of his brother Siddappa carrying a knife. At the time, Siddappa’s wife Amrutha and children Nagaraj and Dhanush were present in the house.
Police said the accused allegedly attacked them with the knife. Nagaraj died in the incident, while Amrutha and Dhanush suffered serious injuries.
The injured were shifted to the government hospital in the city for treatment.
Deputy Superintendent of Police G. Chandrashekhar visited the spot and gathered information.
Sources said Chinnamma Rudrappa of Alabanur village has two sons Siddappa, who lives in Alabanur, and Basavaraj, who resides in Alliganur village of Siruguppa taluk.
Police suspect the long-standing property dispute between the two brothers led to the fatal attack.
