Kerala tribal youth, in a scathing Facebook post, alleges SFI of beating him up

Binesh Balan is now pursuing higher studies at London School of Economics The tribal youth alleges that he was beaten up by SFI activists at Karyavattom campus He also states that some employees of state secretariat had also harassed him

A tribal youth from Kerala, who is doing higher studies at London School of Economics, has said that he was beaten up by Students Federation of India (SFI) activists. The youth also alleges that some employees of state secretariat had also harassed him. 

Binesh Balan, a native of Kasargod, in his Facebook post, alleges that the secretariat employees called him 'an arrogant tribal' when he reached their office asking for a file. The officials harassed him despite knowing the fact that he was a winner of national scholarship for his study in London. 

"Even my friends were among the SFI activists who beat me up at Karyavattom Campus. It was out of personal grudge that they attacked me and their only intention was to cancel my trip to London. They were the ones who made me a Dalit terrorist and one with links to Islamic terrorist organisation," he said. 

Balan also states that the same activists are now claiming to have helped him. "They were not even ready to give a recommendation letter to the minister. However, when media came to my support, the same activists made sure that they will stand by me. But I won't forget any of those people who helped me." 

On March 17, he was attacked by SFI activists following his Facebook post. Balan had written that he couldn't go to the library due to his distressed state. 

The student was in a difficulty after his visa application got rejected and his post was about his mental state. But the SFI was staging a programme in front of the library, and this might have provoked them. He was admitted to hospital following the attack. 

The state government had sanctioned ₹1.5 lakh for initial expenses after he won the scholarship. However, when he reached secretariat to get the money, the officials were merciless. "I would have reached London much earlier if Under Secretary Rajesh Kumar and section officer Beenamol had helped me," he said.