Where police fear staying, Bhaskar investigates all night:Haunted claims leave Surkhi quarters vacant for 22 years; locals say ghosts reside in the abandoned buildings

Sagar Police is known for striking fear in the hearts of criminals — but now, the force itself is grappling with a strange fear: the fear of ghosts. The police quarters built in Surkhi have remained vacant for the past 22 years because no police personnel are willing to live there. Locals claim the buildings are haunted, while officers, at least officially, cite lack of basic facilities as the reason for not shifting. Off the record, however, many officers admit to believing the rumours too. As a result, not a single police family has moved into the quarters situated just one kilometre from the Surkhi police station. Dainik Bhaskar’s team spent a night in these quarters. Read the full report… Quarters built in 2003–04, never occupied The Surkhi police quarters were constructed in 2003–04 to provide housing for police personnel posted at the nearby station. The two-storey building, located about 1 km from the town in a deserted stretch, was designed to house eight families — four units on each floor, each equipped with two rooms, a kitchen, bathroom, and balcony. Separate parking rooms were also built at the rear for motorcycles. Despite being allotted and ready for use, not a single policeman has ever moved in.
Locals believe “evil forces” guard the premises, keeping the police away. Some staff members at the station insist the buildings were already in ruins when they joined and deny any existence of spirits. Team reaches after sunset: Darkness and silence add to fear To test the ghost stories, the Bhaskar team reached Surkhi after sunset. Situated near National Highway-44, the quarters now stand beside a warehouse and vast fields, where farmers keep night vigil. As darkness deepened, the surroundings turned eerie. Though the sound of passing vehicles could be heard, the abandoned structure began to feel increasingly frightening. By 11 PM, the entire area was engulfed in silence. Using mobile flashlights, the team entered the building around midnight. Inside: Broken bottles, graffiti, slogans — no sign of spirits The real “presence” inside was not supernatural — but signs of neglect and misuse. Empty liquor bottles, broken glass, shattered windows and doors, and uprooted switchboards lay everywhere. Strange symbols and graffiti covered the walls, adding to the desolate look. By 2 AM, the team moved up to the first floor. A sudden flutter of birds caused momentary panic, but the rooms revealed the same picture — debris, filth, broken fixtures, and offensive slogans scrawled across the walls. The team roamed through the night but found no sign of ghosts or unusual activity. It appeared clear that fear was rooted in rumours — while the real reason for abandonment was decades of neglect and poor planning. Lack of basic services initially kept personnel away Officials familiar with the issue say that when the quarters were built, the area was isolated, lacked electricity and drinking water, and felt unsafe for families during nighttime. The absence of basic infrastructure made the quarters unlivable from the start. Police now living in dilapidated old quarters inside station campus Ironically, police personnel currently live in decades-old, crumbling quarters inside the station premises.
The roofs leak during rains, grass grows over the tiles, and the structures are at constant risk of collapse. Yet, due to lack of better accommodation, personnel continue to live there. Despite the worsening condition, senior officers have taken no concrete steps for repair or relocation. ASP: Will review the situation Speaking on the matter, Additional SP Lokesh Sinha said: The quarters are old. I can comment only after reviewing the files and inspecting the site.