Indian Police Force Tourists Violating Lockdown To Write 'I Am Very Sorry' 500 Times
April 13, 20202:10 PM ET
Indian police have the unenviable task of enforcing the world's biggest coronavirus lockdown. But last weekend, they handed down a punishment more common in a middle-school classroom than a police station.
Ten foreign tourists caught flouting India's coronavirus restrictions Saturday were made to write the phrase "I did not follow the rules of lockdown. I am very sorry" 500 times and submit the paper to police.
והנה התיעוד מהודו: תיירים מישראל וממקומות נוספים מקבלים עונש מהמשטרה לכתוב 500 פעם "I did not follow the lockdown, I am sorry" אחרי שהפרו את העוצר.@kann_news
The incident happened at a sandy beach along the Ganges River near Rishikesh, a tourist hub in northern India famous for yoga retreats and hippie hangouts. It's where the Beatles made a spiritual pilgrimage in 1968.
An officer who answered the phone Monday at the Muni Ki Reti police station near Rishikesh confirmed details to NPR, but declined an interview.
The tourists were reportedly from Israel, Mexico, Australia and Austria, and were walking along the river when Indian police intervened. Under India's lockdown, all nonessential outings are banned.
Video shared online by Israeli media shows a police officer berating the foreigners.
"Corona is going on, man! You should have to follow the rules and regulations of India," yells an officer in a khaki uniform and surgical mask.
"I'm sorry, sir," replies a tourist, sitting cross-legged in the sand.
Utter fuckery and lies compounded by ignorance and stupidity