One of the three youths regulating traffic

MADURAI: Three youths in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu , who made a TikTok video sitting on the bonnet of a police escort van, had a taste of policing as police engaged them in traffic regulation on Wednesday. The Tuticorin police said it was not punishment but an opportunity to help the youths understand the importance of policing.

The youths, two of them aged 17 years, climbed on the bonnet of the van that was stationed in Caldwell Colony in the city on Tuesday. The van attached to the armed reserve unit of the district police was taken to a workshop at Caldwell Colony when the boys made the short video. One of them recorded it while the two others sat on the bonnet it and acted.

The video was circulated on social media platforms on Tuesday night and it did not miss the attention of the police.

On Wednesday morning, the youths were inquired by the Tuticorin South police. One of the youths is a BA English graduate from Munisamipuram while the two teenagers are from Levinjipuram.

Sporting orange reflective jackets, they assisted the traffic police in regulating traffic at the busy market area from 9am to 1pm. They were given snacks and lunch and asked them to come for a similar shift in the evening. One of them did not have a pair of slippers, and the police got him one.

“It is not punishment. It was their choice. The boys had expressed their willingness to be part of the police force. They said they had not intended to tarnish the image of the police by making the video. We gave them an opportunity to serve the public along with the police,” said deputy superintendent of police in Tuticorin town sub-division R Prakash.

