Kharagpur: A group of contractual workers’ forced entry into a girls’ hostel at IIT-Kharagpur earlier this week has sparked panic on the campus, with the authorities now busy trying to prevent a complete collapse of facilities from Sunday following the group’s threat to suspend all services.

The group’s strike threat came even as the institute lodged a police complaint and alerted the Union HRD ministry. If the group, which has formed a joint action committee (JAC), goes on strike from Sunday it will disrupt the lives of over 12,000 students who study and reside in the country’s oldest IIT.

Matters came to a head on Wednesday when some members of the group—all of whom IIT authorities claimed were outsiders—forced their way into Mother Teresa Hall that houses a section of undergraduate girl students which led to panic among students.

“I saw several men in bikes and cycles overpower the security staff at the hostel entrance and force their way in. It was frightening,” said a girl student.

Concerned over safety within the campus, IIT authorities reported the matter to the police and sought protection. The police have initiated a probe. Alerted about the disturbing development, the Union HRD ministry, too, asked the state to inquire into the matter.

“We have written to the district administration about the law and order violation and asked for police protection to ensure students feel safe in the campus,” said IIT-Kgp director Partha Pratim Chakraborty, adding that he had received assurances on safety in the campus and unhindered services. But concerns remain in the face of JAC’s threat.

The group, which the authorities insist has no standing or recognition, has been attempting to establish its presence by co-opting the 850-odd contractual workers engaged by various agencies that carry out hostel maintenance services outsourced by the institute.

According to the institute authorities, JAC members have in the past tried to intimidate and even assault contractual workers deployed at various hotels in a bid to coerce them into joining the union.

A source in IIT-Kgp said members of JAC have been threatening hostel maintenance workers with dire consequence for a while. "These men have been entering the halls of residence without permission and creating chaos among staff engaged in kitchen and other duties. There have been cases of workers being assaulted and asked to stop work,” he said.

The timing of the latest incident is significant. With the new semester underway since last week, students are present in full-strength. JAC, sources say, is aware that a disruption in hostel services will cripple the institute and force authorities into a compromise.

The Hall Management Centre (HMC)—the committee which runs the 20 hostels—has engaged outsourcing agencies that in turn employ contractual workers for catering and cleaning services. “The trouble is over the JAC’s coercive tactics to control these workers and become their representatives, thereby gaining legitimacy in the campus,” said another source at the institute.

Officially, the group has a list of demands that includes engaging more workers to undertake the various jobs. HMC officials though point out that outsourced workers—particularly those that have been co-opted by JAC—do not even work for eight hours daily.

When IIT-Kgp instituted a biometric system of attendance for the contractual staff, the JAC issued threats to the institute, an HMC source said.

Debashish Chaudhury, member of JAC expressed surprise at IIT not recognising the body which was formed in 2015. He also denied the allegation at Mother Teresa Hall of Residence. “We had held a referendum among IIT staff regarding the movement from which the decision to begin strike from August 5 was taken,” said Chaudhury. JAC convenor Jahar Lal Paul could not be reached.

