Sun Jun 29 14:11:29 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The provided text is a news item from The Hindu, reporting the death of K.M. Salimkumar, a 76-year-old writer and social activist from Kochi, India. Salimkumar was known for his involvement with the Naxalite movement, his imprisonment during the Emergency, and his subsequent work advocating for Dalit rights. He led organizations like Athasthitha Navodhana Munnani and Kerala Dalit Maha Sabha. He gained notoriety for a 1989 public burning of the Manusmriti. Several political figures and organizations have expressed their condolences.

**News Article:**

**Veteran Dalit Rights Activist K.M. Salimkumar Passes Away at 76**

**KOCHI, INDIA – June 29, 2025** – K.M. Salimkumar, a prominent writer and social activist known for his decades of work advocating for Dalit rights, has died in Kochi at the age of 76.

Salimkumar’s life was marked by his early involvement with the Naxalite movement in Kerala, which led to his imprisonment during the Emergency. Following his release, he dedicated his efforts to championing the cause of Dalits, leading organizations such as the Athasthitha Navodhana Munnani and the Kerala Dalit Maha Sabha.

He is perhaps best remembered for leading a highly publicized protest in 1989 where a copy of the Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu legal text, was publicly burned. Salimkumar also authored several books focusing on Dalit issues and broader social concerns.

Condolences have poured in from across the political spectrum. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his sorrow at the loss, and the Marxist-Leninist Party of India (Red Flag) issued a statement mourning his passing. Salimkumar’s work leaves behind a significant legacy in the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality in India.

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