DYFI collects Rs 15 lakh to bail out activists

KOCHI:  Two days and Rs 15 lakh! Not a big deal for the DYFI in Kannur. The organisation collected Rs 15 lakh as deposit money for bailing out thirty-six activists in connection with the Kannur collectorate attack case.
An organisation that has wide acceptance among the youth claims to have mobilised the amount through collections made from the district alone. However, sources said that such a big amount could not be collected within such a short time. Usually, business honchos are approached when a huge amount is needed, they said. The amount has been furnished in the court for bailing out thirty-six DYFI activists, who were in judicial custody in connection with the Kannur collectorate attack.
The court asked each of the accused to execute personal bonds for Rs 15,000 in connection with the act of vandalism.
DYFI state secretary T V Rajesh said that the amount was collected from the district alone. “We had anticipated that a large amount would have to be furnished. Instructions were given to all the units in the district,” he said.  Former DYFI leader A P Abdullakutty, who is a Congress leader and Kannur MLA now, said that crores of rupees have been amassed by the DYFI, the SFI, the Balasangham and other organisations of the CPM after the LDF rule. “It is astounding that a youth organisation has collected Rs 15 lakh within a day or two,” he said and demanded a comprehensive inquiry into the funding of the DYFI. Youth Congress state president P C Vishnunath also expressed similar views.  
Kannur DYFI district secretary P Santosh said that the amount was collected solely through the issue of coupons. “We collected the funds through coupons of nominal amounts: Rs 10, Rs 15, Rs 50 and Rs 100,” he said. DYFI Kannur district president A N Shamzeer said that each unit was asked to give Rs 1,000 towards the fund. The DYFI district committee alone had collected the amount, he said, and added that the DYFI state committee and the CPM were not approached for the money.     
The DYFI activists were released after they spent thirty-five days in judicial custody. They were remanded in connection with vandalising the Kannur collectorate during the state-wide protest on March 21.