Indian Police Force Tourists Violating Lockdown To Write 'I Am Very Sorry' 500 Times

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. 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. 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. You should have to follow the rules and regulations of India," yells an officer in a khaki uniform and surgical mask. It wasn't an empty threat: Under India's Disaster Management Act , lockdown violators may face up to a year in prison. Three weeks ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed all 1.3 billion people in India to stay at home, with a few exceptions for essential work, food shopping and medical visits. India has confirmed more than 8,000 active cases of COVID-19, and about 325 deaths — but testing is not widespread.