Urban, rural SPs lock horns for a bungalow

GUNTUR: The tussle between Guntur urban and rural SPs over occupying the old SP bungalow turned ugly on Thursday when the nameplate of rural SP A Ravichandra on the main gate was found damaged.The matter was informed to DGP V Dinesh Reddy.Sources said the row started when the newly transferred urban SP Syamsundar, who assumed charge a week ago, insisted that the old SP bungalow should be allotted to him.But Ravichandra, who acted as an in-charge urban SP for six months, had refused to vacate the bungalow.It it learnt that the good Vaastu of the old SP bungalow triggered the row between the two IPS officers.A separate bungalow was allotted to the urban SP on the same premises.But the urban SP showed reluctance to function from the premises.Syamsundar occupied the office of rural SP on Thursday and started discharging his duties, which angered Ravichandra.When Guntur city was bifurcated into urban and rural police districts, the then SP DS Chouhan got the old SP bungalow allotted for the urban police district office.Later, the present rural SP shifted to the bungalow with the permission of the then DGP K Aravinda Rao.Ravichandra is reluctant to vacate the building because he is likely to get promotion as DIG soon if he resides in the bungalow with good Vaastu.It may be noted here that former chief minister K Rosaiah laid the foundation stone for the urban police office which was set up in five acres of land at Autonagar.When contacted, Syamsundar said he was the rightful occupant of the SP bungalow as the DGP issued an order (RC No:829/w2/2011, dated August 12, 2011) to this effect.However, rural SP Ravichandra told Express that he reported the matter to Guntur Range IG Harish Kumar Gupta, who spoke to DGP Dinesh Reddy.The DGP had asked him to continue in the same bungalow, the rural SP claimed, ‘blaming’ Syamsundar for damaging his nameplate.