Traffic DSP Ravindra Kumar Singh (right) is yet to vacate the sprawling Bokaro Steel quarters that is meant for only IPS, IAS and deputy general manger ranked officials of public sector units. Picture by Pankaj Singh

Five months after forcefully occupying Bokaro Steel Limited’s (BSL) quarters meant for IPS, IAS and deputy general manger ranked officials of public sector units, Bokaro traffic DSP Ravindra Kumar Singh is not budging from the sprawling bungalow he is not entitled to stay in.

On February 17, the DSP had forcefully barged inside bungalow No. 25 at Sector IC after breaking the locks of the main gate, despite the fact that it was allocated to BSL deputy general manager Amrendu Prakash.

Prakash has since then shifted to another quarters on Sector IV. DSP Singh continues to stay put.

Ironically, bungalow No.25 is just opposite the quarters of Bokaro SP Jitendra Singh.

The Telegraph published a report on the shocking encroachment on February 21, leading to a slew of promises from police top brass.

Five months on, it seems top Bokaro steel officials can do little else but wring hands.

Last week, executive director of Bokaro steel plant Shitanshu Prasad had confirmed to The Telegraph that the DSP had not moved out of the quarters. “We have made repeated pleas to the SP and other senior IPS officers to get quarters vacated but all our appeals have so far fallen on deaf ears. If enforcers of the law break it then one feels helpless,” Prasad had said.

A Bokaro steel plant official alleged that the DSP had called up a senior officer of the BSL’s town administration department, telling him that any attempt to dislodge him from the quarters would be met with their arrests on flimsy grounds.

DSP Singh, when contacted, was as belligerent as he was rumoured to be. He refused to answer any question put to him by The Telegraph.

“Since February, I have had possession of this quarters. I will live here according to my wishes,” he only said.

Even as no one dislodges the DSP, senior police officers trot out correct sentiments.

Bokaro SP Jitendra Singh said he would “do the needful to get the encroached quarters vacated”.

North Chotanagpur IG Laxman Singh said the matter was a “serious breach of discipline”. “(DSP) R.K Singh should have got the quarters allotted in his name. He has no right to make a forced entry. I will call senior officers to implement the rule of law. This is bringing a bad name to the police force,” he said.

“I will personally call the Bokaro superintendent of police. No one is above the law,” director general of police Rajeev Kumar said.

Bokaro steel allotted 341 quarters in Bokaro DC pool for district officials and 415 in the police pool for men in uniform posted in Bokaro.

But records say that 619 quarters, 204 more than what is allowed, have been forcefully occupied by policemen breaking the locks, proving that DSP is in fine company.

Bokaro steel’s town administration officials say government servants who have retired or have been transferred years ago continue to occupy 205 of their quarters so far.

Few years ago, then SP of Bokaro Anil Palta had issued notices to all policemen-encroachers posted outside the district to vacate company quarters under the police pool. Palta had made it abundantly clear that if the policemen did not do so, he would see to it that they were suspended and their salaries were withheld. It worked till his transfer.