Ioannis Stelianou

He was born in the village of Trikomo¹, Famagusta district, on May 3, 1929.

He was killed on October 24, 1958 in his village, by a landmine explosion.

The hero was a graduate of the primary school of Trikomo and worked as a builder. He was instrumental in the establishment of the SEK and “Neos Aion” associations of Trikomo.

He joined EOKA in 1956 in the Trikomo strike groups and went through almost all the sections of the Organization, collaborating with the guerrillas in his area. He helped in the manufacture of bombs and weapons. He took part in ambushes against the enemy and for a long time he did not go to work, because the responsibilities he had taken on in the organization did not leave him time.

On October 24, 1958, together with his fellow fighter Nikos Karantonis and others, he placed a pressure mine on the road between the Trikomo police station and the auxiliary police station, which was located in Perivolia of Trikomo², targeting the military car that was transporting British police officers from one station to the other.

After the mine was placed and, while everyone was leaving and was at a certain distance, Giannis saw a large stone and placed it at a point on the road, so as to block the military vehicle and force it to pass over the mine. In his attempt, however, he stepped on the mine, which exploded, causing his instant death and critically wounding his competitor Nikos Karantonis, who at that moment was throwing pepper to neutralize the smell of any detection dogs that the English used to use in their investigations, after attacks and extended his hand to prevent him, because he realized that he was about to step on the mine.