Monday, December 19 2005 15:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kavaratti: The Lakshadweep administration declared a three-day state mourning as a mark of respect to departed leader and Union Power Minister P M Sayeed as prayers were held at his residence and various madrassas today (Dec 19,2005).

Educational institutions and Government departments in Lakhshadweep will remain closed today and tomorrow (Dec 20,2005).

Sayeed, who passed away at Seoul last night, hailed from Androth in Lakshadweep and represented the Union Territory in Parliament for a record 10 times from 1967-1999. His bid to enter Lok Sabha suffered a blow when he was defeated in the 2004 general elections by Janata Dal-U's Muthu Koya.

Lakshadweep Collector and Development Commissioner, Madhup Vyas, read out a condolence resolution this morning at the secretariat.

Prayers were being held at 'Padanath', the ancestral home of Sayeed at Androth, besides various madrassas in Lakshadweep.

Shocked and grief-stricken relatives and Congress workers were reaching Sayeed's house from various parts of Lakshadweep.

The recruitment to Lakshadweep Police, which was to be held today, has been postponed and would be held after two days, administration sources said.