外出制限違反の外国人に「ごめんなさい」書き取り５００回の罰、インド

【ニューデリーＡＦＰ＝時事】新型コロナウイルス対策で全国的な都市封鎖下にあるインドで、外出制限令に違反した外国人旅行者10人が「大変申し訳ありませんでした」と500回書かされる罰を受けていたことが分かった。地元当局が12日、明らかにした。（写真は資料写真）
　インドでは３月下旬から全国で都市封鎖が敷かれ、食料品や医薬品の買い出しなど必要不可欠な場合にのみ外出が認められている。
　こうした中、１９６８年に英ロックバンド、ビートルズが修行をしたことで知られるアシュラム（ヨガ道場）のある北部リシケシで、イスラエル、メキシコ、オーストラリア、オーストリアからの旅行者１０人が散歩中に警察の取り締まりを受けた。
　現地の警察官によると、１０人は罰として「外出制限の規則を破り、大変申し訳ありませんでした」と５００回書くよう命じられたという。
　この警察官の話では、リシケシ周辺ではこれまでに米国人やオーストラリア人、メキシコ人、イスラエル人ら７００人以上の外国人旅行者が外出制限に違反しており、今回の風変わりな罰には見せしめの意味があるという。
　警察は地域の宿泊施設に対し、外国人宿泊客の外出には地元の人の同伴を義務付けるよう指導する方針だ。また、指導に従わない施設については罪に問われるおそれもあるとしている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/04/14-11:31）

Ten foreigners who broke a coronavirus lockdown in an Indian town made famous by the Beatles, were forced to repent by writing I am so sorry -- 500 times, officials said Sunday.
The nationwide lockdown was imposed near the end of March, with residents permitted to leave their homes only for essential services such as buying groceries and medicine.
The travellers -- from Israel, Mexico, Australia and Austria -- were caught taking a walk in Rishikesh, where the Beatles sought spirituality at an Ashram in 1968.
Local police officer Vinod Sharma said they were each made to write I did not follow the rules of lockdown so I am so sorry 500 times.
More than 700 foreign tourists from the US, Australia, Mexico and Israel staying in the area had flouted the lockdown rules, Sharma said, adding the unusual punishment was handed out to teach them a lesson.
Police said they would direct hotels in the area to allow foreign guests to step out only if accompanied by local helpers.
Establishments that did not follow the order could face legal action, Sharma said.
Police have come up with unusual methods to encourage people to stay home to halt the spread of the deadly disease, including wearing coronavirus-shaped helmets.
But officers in some states were also seen in videos on social media beating drivers on roadsides and making people out and about during lockdown do squats and leapfrogs as punishment.
On Sunday, police said they arrested nine people violating the lockdown after an officer's hand was chopped off in northern Punjab state's Patiala district.
The group were stopped in a vehicle at a checkpoint and -- refusing to turn back as ordered -- hit the accelerator and smashed into steel barricades, officials said.
During the clash, one of the group pulled out a sword, slicing off a policeman's hand. Six more officers were injured in the attack, police said.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to extend a nationwide lockdown that was originally slated to end on Tuesday, for another two weeks.
Some states have already extended the restrictions.
On Sunday, India had registered more than 8,300 coronavirus cases and 273 deaths from the disease.