Freedom fighter remembered

TUTICORIN: The 106th death anniversary of freedom fighter R Vanchinathan was observed at several places, including Vanchi Maniyachchi Junction railway station and Kovilpatti in Tuticorin district, on Saturday.
The participants demanded the government to set up a memorial for Vanchinathan at Vanchi railway junction and also urged the rail department to erect Vanchi's statue at the junction.It was at Vanchi Maniyachi junction where Vanchinathan shot dead the British government - appointed - Tirunelveli collector Robert William D' Escourt Ashe dead, before killing himself on June 17, 1911.
Tuticorin collector N Venkatesh garlanded the photo of Vanchinathan at the railway station and paid homages to it. In his speech, the collector recalled the history of the freedom fighter Vanchi. Vanchi was born to forest officer Regupathi Iyer and Rukmaniammal at Sengottai in Tirunelveli. He joined the freedom movement after hearing public speeches of veteran freedom fighters V O Chidambaram and Subramania Siva, said the collector, while asking students to involve themselves in public life.