Date:25/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082510160400.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Ayyappa Panicker cremated

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: Poet and writer K. Ayyappa Panicker who passed away in Thiruvanamthapuram on Wednesday was cremated near his ancestral home, `Oalikkal House' in Kavalam, on Thursday evening.

A large number of people, including relatives and friends of the late poet and political and cultural leaders, attended the cremation, which was held with State honours. The pyre was set on a piece of land adjoining his ancestral house.

The armed police fired three ceremonial rounds when the body was placed on the pyre. Navaneeth, son of his elder daughter, conducted the last rites at 4.30 p.m.

The body was brought to Oalikkal House at 3.30 p.m.

It was placed in the house for an hour to enable the people to pay their last respects. K.C. Venugopal MLA, Alappuzha District Collector K.R. Muraleedharan, BJP State president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, Kerala Congress (Joseph) leader K.C. Joseph, dramatist Kavalam Narayana Panicker, film actor Murali, poets Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan and D. Vinayachandran were among those who paid homage to the late poet.

None of the Ministers of the State Cabinet was present.