Traffic police in Dimapur share the unseen challenges of their daily duty—from extreme weather and pollution to public abuse and missed family moments.
Khrokeleu Lohe
DIMAPUR — Every day, commuters hurry through busy intersections—some behind the wheel, others rushing under umbrellas, their eyes barely flicking toward the traffic police stationed at their posts.
Some sigh when a red light holds them up. Others ignore the officers completely, too caught up in reaching their destinations, rarely noticing that behind the uniforms and sharp whistles are ordinary people performing an essential duty.
Although Dimapur Police have been recently equipped with a Centralised Command Centre (CCC), marking a significant step towards smart traffic management, traffic personnel on duty continue to face challenges, including forces of nature and from motorists.
To gain deeper insight into the hardships faced by traffic personnel, Eastern Mirror interviewed officers manning key traffic points across Dimapur amid the sweltering summer heat.
Covered in sweat, some officers spared a few moments to speak, while others politely declined to comment.
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Their firsthand accounts shed light on a world of hard work, silent sacrifices and a commitment to duty that often escapes public attention.
The weight of the uniform
Rain or shine, in scorching heat or biting cold, most people can seek shelter. Traffic police do not have that luxury.
“It’s a public service," one personnel from Dhobinala station said quietly. "Even if it is raining or sunny, this is our duty. We cannot complain.”
“Even finding time for a bathroom break or a sip of water becomes difficult. Everything depends on a teammate covering for a few minutes,” he shared.
Another traffic police officer downplayed the daily inconveniences, saying “By the grace of God, I'm fine, but breathing in vehicle exhaust every day takes a toll.”
"Sometimes, because of the smoke from vehicles, we start coughing and experience chest pain."
When asked whether motorists appreciated their efforts to keep roads safe, some personnel offered a sobering response: “Feels like most people do not care. But we are doing this for their safety.”
They recounted incidents of motorists speeding through red lights, taking dangerous shortcuts, and narrowly avoiding accidents.
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The officers also spoke about facing frequent incidents of road rage. Asked how such confrontations affected them, their responses came quickly: ‘As humans, those words hurt us.’”
“Even when we try to stop them, some shout, argue, or become aggressive. Sometimes, we feel embarrassed and helpless.”
A traffic officer manning the busy intersection at Holy Cross Hr. Sec. School junction narrated: “Just the other day, a car was stopped for parking illegally in a ‘No Parking’ zone. Instead of a civil reply, the driver hurled some disrespectful words and sped off, causing inconvenience to other motorists.”
The sacrifices behind the whistle
Even when the uniform comes off, the stress follows them home. A full day of dealing with impatient, angry motorists can drain anyone.
“We think about our families too, but what can we do?” many personnel admitted. “Sometimes, the anger follows us home.”
Their shifts are all over the place. Family birthdays, weddings and school functions — they miss out on them.
“It is just how it is,” a few personnel said.
"It can get lonely, too," one officer said, describing his traffic post as standing alone on a podium during the day and at night.
“It feels like preaching in church all alone but surrounded by thousands.”
He said there is constant anxiety that commuters may miss a signal or make the wrong move. Frustrated motorists blaring their horns only add to the confusion.
They are often the first to witness the aftermath of serious road accidents.
“Some accidents are horrible. No one wants to witness that, but someone must, for everyone else’s safety and to create awareness, too,” the policeman said.
The next time you roll down your window
Despite the coughs, the aches, the family moments they miss, the stress after accidents, and the disrespect they face every day, they wake up each morning to report for another demanding day in uniform.
“There are days we do not want to work,” one officer shared. “But the government trusted us with a job, and we will do it for public safety until we cannot anymore.”
So the next time traffic halts at an intersection and an officer signals for you to stop, take a second look.
It's time we looked beyond the uniform and saw the person wearing it.
(The writer is a third-year BA Journalism and Mass Communication student at St. Joseph University and an intern at Eastern Mirror.)