Communist leader Payyappilly Balan died

Kochi: Veteran communist leader Payyappilly Balan, who was an accused in notorious Edappally police station attack case died in Kochi on Tuesday. He was 91.
Payyappilly Balan alias Balakrishna Pillai, a staunch communist leader was imprisoned for seven years for attacking Edappally police station on February 28, 1950. He was released from Jail when EMS government came to power.
Balan, born to Iraviraman Pillai and Pappiyamma on June 1 in 1925, began his political career at the age of 13 when he offered support to the Travancore State Congress Agitation against the government of C P Ramaswami Aiyar.
Balan took part in the Quit India movement when he was a High School student. He was an active member of Student federation of India while studying in Aluva UC College. He had also served jail term during Emergency period.
Balan was also a writer. His major work was Aluvapuzha Pinneyum Ozhuki, explaining the cruelties faced by him and other accused in the Edappally attack case at the hands of police.
He was the secretary of Aluva constituency, member of the state committee and district president of the Purogamana kala Sahitya Sangham. His wife was Santhadevi. Balan is survived by three children.
His body will be handed over to Cochin Medical College on Wednesday.