Roko C
One must admire the grit and determination of the Traffic Police in Dimapur who are trying their best to maintain smooth traffic especially during rush hour.
However, the good name of the department should not be wasted down the drain by some individual and vested interests for whom the law serves as a symbolic protection for their nefarious activities.
It so happened that when I was on my way to a shop in Notun Bosti to retrieve my helmet which I had deposited earlier during the day for repairs as the graphics on it had peeled off, I was rudely stopped by uniformed personnel at SSI Computer Institute junction in the evening hours. I was ordered to report to the officer in charge for not wearing my helmet. I obliged and I spoke to the traffic personnel and told him that I could produce my helmet within 5 minutes as the shop was just 2 minutes away and apologised for not wearing my helmet.
He replied that whatever the case may be, I should wear my helmet. I replied that that was the very reason why I was on my way to retrieve it. But common sense failed to register in his mind and obstinacy prevailed over him and he asked me and another defaulter to pay Rs 50 each. I did not oblige because firstly I understood that he was hunting for personal gain and secondly, the other defaulter confessed that he had no money, which did not matter very much to me.
Much to my surprise, the traffic personnel on realizing my refusal to fuel his selfish gain, immediately removed a challan and asked me to pay the full amount which I did willingly as I knew that it would be accounted for and would go to the Department instead of his pocket.
Nevertheless, I am not trying to defend myself as I honestly admit that I have violated the law. But I was only seeking consideration on humanitarian grounds for a very genuine reason. What offends me is that on the pretext of enforcing the law, such types of personnel harbour selfish interests which is their top priority and as and when sensible citizens refuse to oblige to their demands, they immediately clamp down the law.
This is a dangerous trend when enforcers of the law use the law to cover their wrongdoings. To me, the law is meant to be for the people to live accordingly, not for its very own enforcers to use it at will, as and when and how they wish to.
