What if some youths who are roaming listlessly on the streets are bundled into an ambulance with a ‘coronavirus patient to teach them a lesson?
Well, this was the essence of a Covid-19 awareness video shot by the Tiruppur Police in Tamil Nadu, which was released on social media on Friday.
Their wailings and their attempts to escape were met with peals of laughter from the viewers of the video.
The police in Tiruppur was on lockdown implementation duty at a road junction and they had an ambulance parked on the roadside with a person dressed up as a coronavirus patient.
The police rounded up some youths who were on the road without any valid reason and forced them into the ambulance, saying they will have to undergo coronavirus test in Coimbatore along with the person who was already sitting inside the van.
The youths got terrified, but the police bundled them into the van despite their wailings and protests.
The person who was already inside the van wearing mask and protective attire asked the youths whether they wanted coronavirus and also started moving towards them.
The terrified youths tried to get out through the van window but the police pushed them back. After some time, the police opened the door of the van and the youths tumbled out in fear.
The police then explained to them that the person inside the van was a fake patient and the drama was enacted to teach them a lesson.
The awareness video, however, elicited mixed reactions from social media.
Tamil irresponsible Porriki Youths going triples in the bike as 2 groups to show off are shown near-death situation by Indian, TN State POLICE (Tiruppur).
Hats off ! 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/6GPtRpsk8D
— Kamal – தாயார் ஆண்டாளின் அடிமை (@kamalmdu) April 24, 2020
Innovative way to teach public about the importance of wearing mask: These Boys are put in an Ambulance with a “Covid patient” in it. Rest visuals show how they react.
PS: Patient is not really Covid +ve.
Video from Tirupur Distt TN. Amazing idea TN Police pic.twitter.com/HYXSPgwOuG
— Shalinder Wangu (@Wangu_News18) April 24, 2020
Ending of the video where this lady officer is explaining why the lockdown is there and how important is to maintain social distancing and wear mask. No demonising of COVID patients but yes of corona because if it was not then almost whole world would not have been in lockdown pic.twitter.com/a1DiFApQe5
— Snehesh Alex Philip (@sneheshphilip) April 24, 2020
Though aim is good this will send a wrong signal…
— Subramoniya Sarma.N (@SARMANS) April 24, 2020
By making such videos aren’t we disrespecting corona infected patients?? One can understand police want to create fear of covid19 so they don’t go out during lockdown.. But this is not the way in my opinion.
— प्रफुल्ल गमरे ~PRAFULL GAMARE (@prafull_tweetz) April 24, 2020
According to Tiruppur Police, the actors in the video were ambulance drivers and it was shot to create awareness among the public against roaming around in violation of the lockdown guidelines.
(With IANS inputs)
