It is surely Holi-day for one and all when they smear their faces with gulal, drench themselves in vibrant colours from top to toe. But for the men in Khaki, including sub inspectors, head constables and constables, even Holi-day is alike any other day since they would be on duty across the State in order to ensure peaceful celebration.
While on duty, men in khaki often pass through emotional ebbs and flow caused by home away thought when they come across gulal smeared faces, people drenched in colours dancing on drumbeats. Once in a year colourful revelry evokes feeling to celebrate Holi with near and dears, but duty first pushes off any such a feelings.
A cop on duty at a busy intersection on Chakrata Road misses company of members of his family. But he is well aware with the fact that it is ‘Holi-day’ not Holiday. “It is holiday for others. But for police personnel, this is business as usual. Even pressure increases during such occasions as we have to be on high alert,” he said.
With a bleak smile, he remarked, “I have already completed 12 years in force. I don’t ask for leave as I know it would not be granted.” He didn’t celebrate holi with his kin for the last five years since he didn’t get leave. No different is the case for several others who almost react in a similar way.
A police personal on duty near Bindal pul didn’t when he last celebrated Holi in company of his children. “Duty is more important. At least I follow this line. My children have now stopped asking me to come home for celebration early since they know that I would be duty,” he said, adding that he missed the celebration but duty was duty.
In charge of an important outpost didn’t get time to take a nap for the last 24 hours, let alone celebrating holi. “This is time for duty. We are not supposed to ask for leave on such important occasions. leaves are usually cancelled,” the cop said, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He got a call from nearby locality about some trivial dispute and left for the spot.
The newly-married cop will not be able to spare time out of his duty to celebrate the Holi with his better half. So, he already apprised him of the fact. Another cop, who is posted on the outskirts of the city, remarked, “We pay attention on our duty on such occasion, instead of paying focus on celebrations.”
There are more than 10,000 police personnel, including sub inspectors, head constable and constables. Of them, a little number has been granted leave. For rest of them, It is holi-day.