ANGAMALY: The mortal remains of actor Rajan P Dev, who passed away at a private hospital in Ernakulam on Wednesday, was interred in a specially prepared tomb at the St. Xavier’s Church cemetery at Karukutty near here at 12.30 p.m. on Thursday.
People from all walks of life flocked to Dev’s residence `Rajakala’ at Karukutty in large numbers to pay tribute to their beloved actor.
A serpentine queue of film personalities and social and cultural leaders was seen in front of the house. The funeral was held with full state honours in the presence of Ministers M Vijayakumar, M A Baby and Mons Joseph.Additional District Magistrate K N Raji placed a floral wreath on behalf of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan. The funeral ceremony began at 11 a.m with Ernakulam–Angmaly Diocese Auxiliary Bishop Mar Sebastian Idayanthrath as the chief celebrant, while Mar Idayanthrath delivered the funeral message.
The body was then taken to the St Xavier’s Church in a specially decorated vehicle, accompanied by those who arrived to pay tributes.
The funeral was attended by former minister P J Joseph, MLAs Jose Thettayil, K Babu, B D Devassy and Roshi Augustine and film dignitaries Suresh Gopi, Innocent, Dileep, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Madhupal, Renji Panickar, Janardanan, M K Arjunan, Mala Aravindan, Pradeep Roy, Rajmohan Unnithan, Salim Bava, Lalu Alex, Captain Raju and Prabhakaran Pazhassi.
The ceremony at the church was led by Fr Sebastian Ayaniyadan, Fr Paul Kallookaran and Fr Joseph Kallarackal. Many people from the social and cultural fields, film personalities and locals were found trying to control their emotions when the body was laid down.
A condolence meeting, presided over by Karukutty panchayat president K K Shibu, was held immediately after the burial.
Many who arrived to pay tributes could not see the body due to the unexpectedly huge crowd that gathered.