Thousands pay last respects to Pirapaharan’s father

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 January 2010, 03:43 GMT]
Thousands of people, including men, women, and children Saturday paid their last respects to the remains of late Thiruvengadam Vellupillai, father of LTTE leader Mr. V. Pirapaharan, at Theeruvli in Valveddiththu’rai (VVT) near the memorial monument of Lt. Col. Kumarappa, Lt. Col. Pulenthiran and Col. Kiddu. Mr. Velupillai passed away while he was being kept in isolation and illegal custody by the Sri Lanka Army at the age of 86.

Despite the intimidating presence of Sri Lanka intelligence personnel, people poured in their thousands from all parts of the peninsula to pay their last respects to the remains of late Tiruvengadam Vellupillai Saturday at Theeruvil. The remains were brought to VVT around 5:45 p.m. to be kept for the public to pay last respect till 9:00 a.m. Sunday.

The body will be taken to Pirapaharan’s house in Aaladi in VVT and from there will be taken in procession at 11:00 a.m. to Oo’ra’ni Hindu cremation grounds.

The headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), conveying its condolences to Mrs. Velupillai, children and relatives, on Thursday said that the entire Tamil Nation lamented for the demise of Mr. Velupillai, who preferred to be with the people during the war.

The LTTE leader's parents had been living in Tamil Nadu in India, but opted to go to Vanni before the war broke out.



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