Coronavirus: in India, after violence police try humour to enforce lockdown

Police admit it has been hard work to keep 1.3 billion citizens in their homes, more than a week into the country’s 21-day lockdown

Early videos showed officers administering roadside beatings to lockdown breakers, but in the last week or so police seem to have changed tack

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Police inspector Rajesh Babu, wearing a helmet depicting the coronavirus, asks a motorcycle rider to go home in Chennai, India, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:05am, 2 Apr 2020Updated: 11:52pm, 7 Apr 2020

One minute they’re dancing in the street in comical coronavirus helmets, the next they’re seen beating people for flouting a nationwide lockdown – Indian police have played “good cop, bad cop” in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.

The streets of India’s cities have been largely deserted for more than a week of the government’s 21-day lockdown – no mean feat in a country of 1.3 billion people famed for their flexible attitude towards authority.

Police admit it has been hard work to keep citizens in their homes, while one analyst said some degree of coercion was needed to enforce government orders.

In Bangalore, traffic police are using humour to discourage drivers from venturing out.

Indians wear masks depicting coronavirus and placards that read: ‘Don't come out, don't go near to corona’ as part of a punishment for breaking lockdown on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Two officers wearing red and green coronavirus helmets regularly dance around miscreant road users after pulling them over, while their colleagues blow horns and bang gongs to simulate a virus attack.

Vijay Hadagil, inspector of police at the traffic department said the tableau aimed to raise awareness that “the notorious coronavirus is spreading like anything”.

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