University of Mysore security guard’s death sparks protest

Activists of All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) staged a fresh protest outside Crawford Hall in Mysuru on Wednesday, November 12, after a security guard was found dead in the premises of the Oriental Research Institute (ORI) of the University of Mysore early that morning.

The 50-year-old guard, identified as Sanjay, was found dead a day after the Karnataka United Security Workers’ Union, affiliated to AIUTUC, staged a demonstration in front of Crawford Hall, alleging irregularities by the private agency from which the University of Mysore had outsourced its security staff.

When Mr. Sanjay was found dead on the morning of November 12, AIUTUC alleged that the existing private agency was denying the security staff their right to a weekly off and forcing them to work on all days of the week like the previous private agency.

The protestors said Mr. Sanjay had worked for 11 days without a day’s off and his request for a day off was rejected by the supervisor of the private agency. Though they alleged that he had died due to work pressure, his family has reportedly denied that he was under such pressure.

The Karnataka United Security Workers’ Union, which held a demonstration on November 11, had submitted a memorandum to the Registrar of University of Mysore demanding an investigation by an “external agency” into the alleged irregularities by the private agencies.