Good cop, bad cop as India deals with lockdown rebels
Updated 3 years ago ·
Published on 2 Apr 2020 8:30AM ·
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 Covid-19.
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. – AFP, April 2, 2020.
Traffic police personnel wearing coronavirus-themed helmets performing in front of a motorist (centre) as they participate in a campaign to educate the public during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against Covid-19 in Bangalore. – AFP pic, April 2, 2020.
Men wearing masks depicting a coronavirus and placards reading ‘Don’t come out, don’t go near to corona’ as punishment enforced by the police for breaking a nationwide government-imposed lockdown in Chennai. – AFP pic, April 2, 2020.
A police officer riding a horse covered with coronavirus-themed paintings as he speaks to the public during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown against Covid-19, in Peapally Mandal village of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh state. – AFP pic, April 2, 2020.
Traffic police personnel wearing coronavirus-themed helmets participating in a campaign to educate the public during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 in Bangalore. – AFP pic, April 2, 2020.
A police officer stopping a vehicle as they check for valid documents for travel during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against Covid-19 in Chennai. – AFP pic, April 2, 2020.
A handout photograph released by Delhi police showing members of the new ‘Covid Patrol’, a patrol created to spread awareness and to enforce the government-imposed nationwide lockdown during its launch in the south districts of New Delhi. – AFP pic, April 2, 2020.
Traffic police personnel wearing coronavirus-themed helmets performing in front of motorists as they participate in a campaign to educate the public during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against Covid-19 in Bangalore. – AFP pic, April 2, 2020.
Daily wage labourers and their families carrying their belongings walking past the Vidhana Soudha building as they leave the city for their hometown during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown against Covid-19 in Bangalore. – AFP pic, April 2, 2020.
Volunteers from Dera Kar Sewa Sant Baba Bhuri Wale organisation preparing food for people in need during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against Covid-19 in Amritsar. – AFP pic, April 2, 2020.
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