The men in uniform at the Singhat police station of Churachandpur district in Manipur are a suffered lot.
With police station building in a shambles, locals have made good use of the premises for cultivation and growing vegetables.
The building constructed in 2008 has been declared as unusable, the police men stationed there have no choice but to adjust with nature while performing their duties under the open sky.
On Thursday last, the local legislator Ginsuanhau Zou finally found time to assess the present condition of the Singhat police station when he went to the region to inaugurate a newly constructed tribal market shed at Singhat sub-divisional headquarters.
The Superintendent of Police (SP) of Churachandpur and other officials also accompanied the MLA during his assessment visit.
The existing strength of the police station is around 40.
However, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Churachandpur hinted at increasing the strength to 100 personnel if their office building is repaired.
Ironically, none of the police personnel posted at the Singhat police station have any weapon as they do not have a strong room.
They are given arms when the need arises only after bringing the arms from Churachandpur district headquarters with escorts.
With the main building vacated, the policemen have no lock-up, barrack, toilets or kitchen.
After making a spot assessment of the police station, Ginsuanhau Zou told the media persons accompanying him that he would take up the matter with the State Chief Minister N Biren Singh to re-construct the building.