State bids tearful adieu to Kodiyeri; cremated with full state honours and gun salute

KANNUR: The state bid a tearful adieu to former CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. The leader (68) was cremated at a specially arranged place near Payyambalam beach. He was laid to rest in between the memorial tombs of CPM leaders E K Nayanar and Chadayan Govindan. He was cremated with full state honours and gun salute. The leaders bid farewell to the leaders shouting slogans.

The leader’s two sons Binoy Kodiyeri and Bineesh Kodiyeri lit the funeral pyre.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yachuri, Prakash Karat, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, politburo member M A Baby and LDF Convener E P Jayarajan carried Kodiyeri's body from the ambulance to the cremation ground. The funeral procession started from Kannur district committee office, Kannur Azhikodan Memorial Hall, to Payyambalam. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and senior members of the party along with tens of thousands of people followed the funeral procession of Kodiyeri and reached Payyambalam by walking a distance of three kilometers. Only 12 leaders and Kodiyeri's family members had access to the funeral place.