Guard ends life, case filed against security company

Sending a strong message to security service providers, which mostly push their employees to the edge, the Delhi Police have registered a case of abetment to suicide against one such firm after one of its employees committed suicide on Monday. Jatin Anand reports.

Sending a strong message to security service providers, which mostly push their employees to the edge, the Delhi Police have registered a case of abetment to suicide against one such firm after one of its employees committed suicide on Monday.

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Police said the case was filed after Gopal Singh, 24, a security guard at Jeevan Bharti Building near Parliament Street was found hanging from a ceiling fan at 9am.

"The victim worked as a security guard at a brokerage company in the building. He hailed from Almora in Uttarakhand. We were intimated about his death by one of the company's employees," said a senior police officer.

Singh, who had last reported on night duty on Sunday, worked with Firewall Security Company. He left a long suicide note, blaming long working hours and pittance as salary for taking the extreme step, police said.

"In his suicide note, he has stated that he was forced to work at least 12 hours a day, even after which the company would deduct money from his salary on one pretext or other," the officer said.

Police said they, on the basis of the suicide note, had registered a case of abetment to suicide against the security service provider.

According to the available data, there are more than 3.5 lakh security guards employed across the Capital.

According to the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act (PSARA) of 2005, guards are supposed to be paid at least Rs 6,300 for an eight-hour duty, have 26 working days and are entitled to medical welfare schemes.