Kannur: Directing traffic at Mele Chovva now comes with an essential piece of equipment, a lathi. Make no mistake, the baton isn't meant for unruly motorists, but to keep a fierce stray dog at bay.

Traffic police personnel deployed near the Water Authority tank on the National Highway find themselves in this unenviable fix, all thanks to a canine that has made the tank compound her home. Having recently whelped a litter of puppies, the new mother has turned fiercely territorial and aggressive. She recently lunged at an officer on duty, leaving him with bite wounds that required hospital treatment.

Following the incident, officers posted to the junction have taken to carrying batons for protection. After all, when your only goal at the end of a shift is to head home safe rather than to the emergency room, what else are you supposed to do?