Daijiworld Media Network - Ernakulam
Ernakulam, Jan 31: Former Naxal leader Vellathooval Stephan passed away on Saturday at the age of 82 due to age-related ailments, his relatives said.
A native of Vellathooval in Kerala’s Idukki district, Stephan had been residing in Ernakulam, where he breathed his last. His family originally hailed from Kottayam district before later moving to Idukki.
Stephan was a prominent figure in Kerala’s Naxalite movement and was named in 19 cases, including the 1968 attack on the Thalassery police station. He was arrested in 1971 and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, during which he later renounced the movement.
After his release, he worked in different parts of the state. His autobiography gained wide readership and was appreciated by both literary circles and the general public in Kerala.
Relatives said his last rites will be held at Vadattupara on Sunday.