An unmanned traffic police post in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, June 3: Most traffic intersections in the city have remained unmanned during the day because of the gruelling heat.

The police personnel supposed to man them take cover and withdraw from their posts when the sun is blazing. The situation has aggravated because of the strike of the home guards, which entered the third day today.

On June 1, the home guards declared an indefinite strike and have refused to cooperate with the police demanding a hike in their salary.

Traffic constables said they used to do eight-hour shifts earlier. But now, they have to work more because of the strike. “It is practically impossible for anybody to stand in the sun. Earlier we used to share our duties with the home guards, but now they are not there,” said a traffic constable, who did not want to be named.

“It is difficult to stand at one place under the sun and we have to leave the traffic booths for sometime and stand in the shade for a while. But, we do keep a watch on the square,” said another traffic constable deployed at a temporary intersection on the National Highway 5.

The Bhubaneswar urban police department has more than 200 traffic constables, including around 50 women. Around 100 home guards had also been assisting the police in traffic management.

These personnel are supposed to manage traffic at 50 squares in the city, apart from some other areas.

A senior traffic police officer said traffic constables had been deployed in the central part of the city while home guards assisted the cops in other areas. “The non-cooperation of the home guards has affected some of our traffic posts. We are trying hard to provide better service to the public,” said Nirmal Satpathy, additional deputy commissioner of police (traffic).

Most of the police control room (PCR) vans kept off the roads for three consecutive days because of the strike by home guards. Though police officials had said that they would deploy their personnel in the PCR vans, sources said of the 33 vans, only around 15 police-driven vans were currently operating in the city.

The home guards have threatened to intensify their agitation after their talks with home secretary U.N. Behera failed. The home guards have a four-charter demand including a hike in their remuneration from Rs 150 to Rs 300 a day. They also want the stopping of their dismissals from service and reinstatement of those who have already been sacked.

“The home secretary did not give us any definite assurance. He only gave oral assurances, which we could not trust, because he had earlier failed to keep his words. We will continue with our ceasework,” said Sanjay Behera, president of Nikhila Utkal Gruharakhi Mahasangh.

The home guards also alleged that deputy commissioner of police Nitinjeet Singh was not permitting them to organise a rally on MG Road. “It is ridiculous that the police do not give us permission to hold protests in a democratic country. We will send our lawyer tomorrow who will seek permission on our behalf. If they do not give us permission, we will lodge a complaint against him,” said a protester.