Gujarat University V-C Aadesh Pal beefs up personal security

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown’ goes the saying. And this will be better exemplified by none else than the newly-appointed vice chancellor of Gujarat University, Dr Aadesh Pal, who has started a slew of measures to protect himself.

Security or the concern for it is not a new chapter for the varsity, as former V-C Dr Parimal Trivedi too employed a bevy of bouncers to protect him. Though Trivedi summoned security personnel to safeguard him from student ‘attacks’, it was not for a long time that he called for the service of gunmen.

Ever since his appointment to the varsity’s top post, Dr Pal has been embroiled in serious controversies since day one — all leading him to fortify his security measures every passing day.

Hounded by insecurities, an extra metal fence has been set up adjoining the metal grill at the entry point in the corridor of his office in a month’s time. Besides, two additional CCTV cameras have been installed in the corridor.

Not stopping at that alone, this time the varsity head has now armed himself with gunmen — not one, but five of them — a fact that was confirmed by Arvind Bhandari, in charge registrar of GU.

On Monday morning many people were surprised to see three gunmen accompanying Dr Pal when he came to participate in a rally organised to protest against habitual consumption of gutkha with around 400 students.

Further inquiry confirmed that the V-C roped in services of the three gunmen. “Two gunmen are provided by the police department on request, and one is employed by Dr Pal himself from a private agency. Two gunmen are also posted at his bungalow,” informed Bhandari. He said that the expense of providing gunmen will be borne by the varsity, but the amount will be known only once it has been billed.

Bhavin Rathod, a student leader from National Students Union of India (NSUI) rushed to GU when he got a call from a student saying the V-C is not meeting anyone. “To my horror, I saw gunmen patrolling as if there was a terrorist threat on the new V-C.

He was not meeting any students or visitors. There were around eight bouncers in the GU headquarter. One was present in V-C’s chamber, two outside his cabin, three in the cabin and two near the elevator,” he said.