HT Digital
Tezpur, 11 Oct : Fresh allegations of irregularities within Tezpur University continue to surface one after another. After the mysterious death of singer Zubeen Garg, the students of the university were angered by what they saw as disrespect from the Vice-Chancellor and the administration during the tribute ceremony. Following student protests, teachers and staff members—who had so far remained silent observers of ongoing irregularities—have also begun to speak out and join the movement.
Since September 22, the university campus has been in turmoil, with protests demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Shambhunath Singh and action against corruption and mismanagement. Now, the situation has escalated further, with the security guards themselves launching a protest that resembles a kind of “soldiers’ rebellion.”
It is notable that, earlier, security arrangements at Tezpur University were managed by a home guard unit. However, after Shambhunath Singh assumed office as Vice-Chancellor, the university handed over the security contract to a private company named GDX Security Solutions Limited from Uttar Pradesh.
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Reports suggest that although local youths were hired as guards, the GDX company has been earning large sums of money from the contract—“like frying fish in its own oil.” Allegations have also emerged that the company has cut several benefits previously available to the guards.
According to the protesters, about 262 security guards demonstrated today at the university’s main gate. They claimed that their appointment letters did not mention salary details. The guards said they are paid ₹15,000 per month for 22 days of work, but have not been provided uniforms for over a year. The company also failed to supply even basic items such as flashlights. Whenever the guards raised objections, they were threatened with transfer or termination.
Furthermore, it has been alleged that while ₹15,000 was collected from each guard at the time of appointment earlier, the company is now charging as much as ₹25,000 from new recruits. The guards claim that GDX Security Solutions receives a large payment from Tezpur University for their services but pays them much less than what is due, without issuing any pay slips.
The company allegedly removes existing guards arbitrarily and replaces them with new ones in exchange for money.
The protesting security guards have demanded immediate redress of these ongoing injustices and irregularities.
