Authorities exhume remains of boy, 7, killed during 1956 protest against colonial rule

The authorities on Saturday exhumed the remains believed to belong to a seven-year-old boy killed by British troops during a protest in Larnaca against the former colonial rulers in 1956.

Demetrakis Demtriades’ remains were found in a grave at Ayios Georgios Kontos cemetery with the remains of more than eight other people.

“We have located the bones of a small child as well as numerous bones belonging to others buried here,” the head of the exhumation, Xenophon Kallis said.

He said the bones did not make up a complete skeleton and were not in a very good condition.

“But we hope that scientists at the Institute of Genetics and Neurology … will manage to carry out the necessary DNA tests,” Kallis added.

Kallis said it appeared that the remains belonged to Demetriades but confirmation was needed before an answer was given to the family.

Demetrakis’ brother, Lakis, said they were about the same age when he was shot and killed by the British.

He thanked the authorities for carrying out the exhumation “to discover the child’s bones because for so many years no one knew where they were.”

Demetrakis was a primary school pupil when during a protest near the Ayios Lazaros church on March 14, 1956, he was shot in the head.