India’s struggle with lockdown

India’s 1,2 billion population will have to stay home until May 3.

The initial three-week shutdown hasn’t stopped the spread of coronavirus with more than 10,000 confirmed cases reported.

“Until May 3 every Indian will have to stay in lockdown. I request all Indians that we stop the coronavirus from spreading to other areas,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a televised address. “In areas where hotspots do not manifest and in those which have contained them, we can consider a conditional withdrawal of lockdown,” he added.

Some states like Odisha had already unilaterally extended it.

Meanwhile, Indian police have come up with a novel way to punish tourists violating the nationwide lockdown. It is treating them like naughty schoolchildren.

Ten tourists from Israel, Mexico, Australia and Austria were caught breaking the lockdown and were forced to write ‘I am sorry’ 500 times as penance.

According to local police officer Vinod Sharma, they were ordered to write ‘I did not follow the rules of lockdown so I am so sorry’ 500 times. Local police say more than 700 tourists have violated the lockdown. During the lockdown the country’s 1.2 billion population are only allowed out to buy essential supplies.

According to local media, other unique punishments meted out to residents have included being forced to do army drill style squats by the roadside. Foreign tourists must now be accompanied by helpers designated by their hotel. Failure to do so could lead to fines for hotels.

MMP
photo: Pixabay