Mysuru:  Over 13 sacked security guards of Sandalwood Oil Factory in city staged a protest outside the Office of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), Manandawadi Road yesterday under the banner of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

They shouted slogans against the authorities of KSDL seeking abolition of contract system while appointing security guards. They said that KSDL had removed more than 20 security guards who had been working in Mysuru division of KSDL from many years on the grounds of lack of qualification. Though State Tourism and Sericulture Minister S.R. Mahesh had given directions to authorities not to sack the guards, the authorities sacked them and had appointed an outsourcing agency to deploy guards, they said.

The protesters urged KSDL to continue their services based on their experience and humanitarian grounds. Later, they submitted a memorandum to KSDL Managing Director to look into their demands.