A lot of countries have locked down and governments around the world are doing their best to contain the coronavirus pandemic. There is a lot of fake news circulating too, like the false rumors that Russia has let out 500 lions on the streets to make sure people don’t step out of their houses. Just like many other nations, India, too, is in the midst of a lockdown, but what we're about to tell you isn't fake news.

As is with any country, there are some rebellious folks who think it is okay to go against the tide. To teach them a lesson, the Indian Law Enforcers have resorted to violence. The cops are ruthlessly hitting people with sticks and canes. Do you think this is acceptable?

Hitting The Lockdown Violators: Yay or Nay?

The world is in a crisis and every country is trying to make sure the pandemic doesn’t spread like wildfire. India has done a fairly good job containing it until now. For a developing nation with a population of 1.4 billion, there have been 863 cases and 20 casualties at the time of writing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared a nation-wide lockdown until April 15, 2020. This is similar to other countries in the same situation where you can step out of your house only to buy groceries. However, a lot of videos are circulating that show cops mercilessly beating the shit out of people. The ‘victims’ are generally the folks riding on two-wheelers. While the frustration amongst the cops is understandable, the violence seems to be uncalled for.

As you can see in this video, cops are using sticks and canes (known as ‘Lathi’ in the local vernacular) to hit people who are out on the roads during the lockdown. Although this is a video showing cases from just one state, the same has been happening all across the country.

Cops have set up barricades all around to ensure the strictest action is possible. On the contrary, people driving around in four-wheelers are not being victimized here and are generally let to go free. That, however, is possible only if you have a genuine reason to be out of your house (medical emergency, or the likes).

If you think there was no retaliation, you’re mistaken. In Bangalore, a group of men were riding their bikes during the lockdown. When the cops tried to stop them, they attacked them with stones and bricks. The cops opened fire and shot one person in the knee. Perhaps, it’s because of such instances that police officers have resorted to violence and are being stricter than they should be.

Final Thoughts

Do you think hitting these ‘offenders’ with sticks, canes, and batons is justified? If this was happening in your city or area, how would you react to it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.