A police post in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district wears a deserted look after people have reportedly started believing that the building is haunted by ghosts. The post remains locked and matters are settled from the police station.
The police have not been able to shun the ‘haunted’ tag from the Nai Bazar police post of Sadar Kotwali in Sonbhadra district. All operations of the Nai Bazar post take place only on paper. This is because police personnel do not want to work in the area out of fear and hence the place remains locked.
Locals are forced to visit the Robertsganj police station located 12 to 15 kilometres away for any official work. The largest police station area of the district is Sadar Kotwali, under which there are eight police posts.
About seven years ago, after rampant crime and murder in the Nai Bazar area, a police post was established in a rented building one kilometre ahead of the market. People expected that incidents of crime would come down following this. However, despite all efforts, the police post did not function regularly owing to fear of ghosts.
In a few years, around eight to 10 police post in-charges have been posted here. However, no one stayed in duty for long. While some police personnel tried to operate the post, they could not succeed.
Vehicles have been provided by the police department so that the area can be monitored, and five to six police personnel were also posted in the area along with an SI. However, due to the absence of police personnel at the post, in the event of any incident in the area; it takes a lot of time to reach the spot.
The name of SI SP Srivastava, posted at the police post several years ago is still mentioned at the ‘haunted’ police post. The deserted place has tall grass growing in front of the building. During the day, the policemen spend their time at a shop in the market or under the shade of a tree. However, during night hours, if anyone has to register any complaint, the only option for them is to visit the Robertsganj police station located 12 to 15 kilometres away.
Efforts were made to construct the police post at a new location in 2022. Though proposals for its construction were sent to higher officials, no action has been taken on it till now.
The owner of the building in which the Naya Bazar police post is located does not live in the area. There is no arrangement for water or electricity for the post.
Speaking about the deserted police post, senior journalist Rajesh Goswami said in a special conversation with News18, “The haunted police post has attracted the curiosity of many. While on one hand the intellectuals call talks of ghosts baseless, on the other hand a department like the police is afraid of working there. This is a matter of discussion in itself.”
Goswami said that either a new outpost building should be constructed as soon as possible or a better alternative should be found, so that the public can benefit from it. This will ensure that they do not need to visit the police station to register a complaint, he added.
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