KOCHI: Well-known journalist and former chairman of Press Academy VP Ramachandran has passed away. He was 98 years old. He is a former editor at Mathrubhumi. He died at his residence in Kakkanad due to an age-related illness.

Vettathu Puthenveettil Ramachandran, popularly known as the VPR, has been a pioneer in parliamentary reporting, foreign reporting and investigative reporting for over half a century. He has worked for Mathrubhumi, Associated Press and Press Trust of India. He has worked as a correspondent in Pakistan for PTI. Ramachandran was the first to report that President Ayub Khan had announced martial law. He was one of the few Indian journalists to interview Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

He has received the Swadeshabhimani-Kesari Award instituted by the state government for his comprehensive contribution to the field of media.