Engineering cell of Dhanbad Division of East Central Railway today conducted an anti-encroachment drive at Diamond Crossing colony. During this drive around 25, railway quarters lying in unauthorized occupation were cleared by the Railway authorities in association with the Railway Protection force team.

The four-hour-long drive began at around 11 am under the leadership of assistant engineer, Anand Kumar Pandey, ended at around 3 pm. No resistance was witnessed during the eviction.

Minutes after the eviction, speaking to The Telegraph Online, officer-in-charge of RPF Post, Avinash Karosia said, “We removed the encroachers from around 25 quarters today. This drive will continue till all the 200 quarters lying in illegal possession are cleared in the area.”

“In the past, we have witnessed encroachers returning to the vacated quarters soon after the completion of the drive, hence we have removed the doors and windows of the freed quarters to avoid their reoccupation by the unauthorized people,” said Karosia.

Public Relation officer of Dhanbad Division of East Central Railway, PK Mishra maintained that repeated notices have been given by the railway administration to occupants of quarters to vacate the same. With the notices not eliciting any desired response, a forcible evacuation programme was carried out.

“We will conduct such evacuation drives along with demolition drives of dilapidated quarters lying in illegal possession,” said Mishra.