Former Naxalite leader Vellathooval Stephen dies

Vellathooval Stephen, one of the stalwarts of the Naxalite movement in Kerala, passed away at his residence in Vadattupara, near Kothamangalam, on Saturday. He was 86. He was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments for a while.

One of the founding leaders of the Naxal movement in the State, Mr. Stephen had played an active role in the Thalassery police station attack in 1968, following which he went absconding. In hiding, he remained active in the revolutionary movement before being arrested in 1971. He spent 15 years in jail. When arrested he was facing 18 cases including murder charges.

After being jailed, he renounced the ideals of bloodshed revolution and turned to evangelism. He published several books including Charithrasasthravum Marxian Darsanavum, Prachodanam and Kanalvazhikal Kadannu oru Daivasakshyam and the much-read autobiography Vellathooval Stephente Athmakatha.

Mr. Stephen was born at Kangazha in Kottayam district to Zachariah and Annamma of Chundamannil. The family later moved to Vellathooval in Idukki. He was attracted to the undivided Communist Party of India by his father’s ideological leanings. He shifted to the path of extremism following the split of the party in 1964.

Mr. Stephen’s final rites will be held on his residential premises on Sunday.