Floral tributes, red salute to martyrs

Alappuzha, Oct 27 (UNI) Thousands paid floral tributes and red salutes to martyrs who fell to the guns of the Travancore Army at Vayalar Martyr Land on the occasion of 60th martyrdom.

Memories of the fighting were visible everywhere at Vayalar Village.

From wee hours, thousands of followers and activists of Left parties arrived at Vayalar by backwater and roads. Women and children carried red flags and shouted 'Zindabad.' By 1100 hrs, the torch lit by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan arrived at Vayalar from Punnapra Martyr land.

Hundreds of party workers in several vehicles and motorcycles carrying red flags and accompanied by orchestras singing revolutionary songs were escorted by athletes who carried the torch.

People gave warm reception to the torch on way from Punnapra to Vayalar. When it arrived at Vayalar martyr land, they shouted slogans.

Old comrades who participated in the communist upheaval in 1946 also reached here.

Several Ministers, including Dr Thomas Issac and G Sudhakaran, MPs C K Chandrappan, C S Sujatha and Dr K S Manoj, MLA A M Arif and C K Sadasivan and other prominent leaders paid tributes to the martyrs.

They were accompanied by MLA P Thilothaman who is the Chairman of the committee constituted for this year's martyr observation.

He received the athletes who handed over the torch to him.

and installed it on the martyr memorial.

The committee has organised a seminar in memoriam of Vayalar Ramavarma who died 31 years ago this day.

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