Cops wear coronavirus helmets to scare residents into lockdown in India

Police in India have left residents bug-eyed by wearing terrifying coronavirus helmets resembling alien invaders covered by the familiar microscopic spikes to scare them into obeying lockdown rules, according to a report.

Police Inspector Rajesh Babu took to wearing the homemade helmet while stopping cars and pedestrians in the southern city of Chennai, according to CNN.

The headgear is the brainchild of Art Kingdom founder B. Gowtham, who noticed that people were not taking the deadly disease seriously enough.

“People are not hygienic enough,” Gowtham told the network. “We have government orders not to come out — but still, we’re seeing people roaming here and there without proper safety equipment, without masks.”

Assuming that people were pooh-poohing COVID-19 because it is invisible, he decided to open their eyes to the threat by creating the monstrosity with the virus’ red-spiked bulbs.

“People will be frightened,” said the local artist, who took his idea to the nearest police station.

“They’ve been working continuously, so I wanted to reduce their workload and make people more aware,” he said.

When police expressed their support, Gowthan used newspapers and tissue paper to create the helmet and gave it to Babu.

The inspector has been wearing the helmet as he stops vehicles at checkpoints — especially targeting drivers and riders who are not using face masks.

He lectures them menacingly about the importance of social distancing and wearing protective equipment, and urges them to stay home.

“If you come out, I will come in,” he tells them.

There have been about 1,200 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and at least 32 deaths across India, which is under a 21-day lockdown that has effectively kept all 1.3 billion residents at home for all but essential trips to places like markets or pharmacies.

Police in other Indian cities, including Bangalore, also have been spotted wearing the grotesque helmets, according to the Sun of the UK.