During the summer 2021 COVID-19 wave that overwhelmed India, a distressing video from Agra went viral. The headline “Woman dies after Indian police take oxygen cylinder from family for VIP” encapsulated a heartbreaking scene: a man sobbing and prostrating himself while begging the police not to take away his mother’s oxygen cylinder.
This powerful image captured widespread attention, both at home and abroad. It serves as a useful case study to explore the broader issue of the role of police in healthcare settings during a pandemic. The virality of the video, accompanied by a majority of social media posts labelling the situation as “shameful” highlighted public outrage and sparked essential questions about the role of law enforcement in health crises.
To fully understand the implications of police involvement in health crises, we believe we must consider their role in “normal times.” The presence of police during the pandemic should be viewed in the context of their actions, for example, during people’s protests in the context of the CAA legislation, Bhima Koregaon, and others which preceded the COVID-19 pandemic.
Historically, the police in India like elsewhere have often been used to maintain order in ways that reinforce existing power structures, frequently targeting marginalised communities. By examining these patterns, we can better interrogate the embedded role of police in society and their impact on various communities, especially those already marginalised.
Reflecting on the pandemic from today’s relative calm, it might be tempting to dismiss such incidents as inevitable in a system where the powerful often dictate actions. The presence of police in healthcare settings during the pandemic could be seen as an instance of crisis exceptionalism or a consequence of an under-resourced healthcare system. However, such reactions risk overlooking critical questions about the role of police in health crises.
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The deployment of police in hospitals during the pandemic was not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern where law enforcement is used to manage public order, even in contexts requiring specialised medical knowledge and compassion.
This incident illustrates the police doing precisely what they were ordered to do: supporting the implementation of containment measures for a deadly virus. However, their involvement also highlighted the coercive edge of public health, where enforcement can sometimes overshadow the principles of care and equity. The police, lacking medical training, were tasked with making and/or implementing decisions about life-saving resources, underscoring the misalignment between their role and the needs of a health crisis. This raises critical questions about whether such roles are appropriate or effective in managing public health emergencies.
The shock and outrage expressed by many were likely felt most acutely by those who generally benefit from or are unaffected by police actions — typically upper caste and upper-class individuals. For marginalised groups such as the poor, lower castes, adivasis, Dalits, and Muslims, the harsh reality of police overreach is a daily experience.
This incident in Agra, therefore, must be understood within the framework of structural violence, where state actions perpetuate inequities and reinforce social hierarchies. This opens up the possibility of the use of police in health crises as an extension of this violence, aimed at maintaining control over vulnerable populations under the guise of public health.
Health crises require specialised responses. The involvement of police, who lack medical training, may not only be merely a misallocation of resources but may even be seen as a fundamental misunderstanding of public health principles. Effective public health interventions, in a democratic society should arguably rely on trust, education, and voluntary compliance, rather than coercion. The deployment of police in such roles risks exacerbating public distress and undermining the social solidarity necessary for effective health measures.
Effective crisis response necessitates robust interagency collaboration. The Agra case underscores the need to critically examine these collaborations. Public health crises should prompt us to rethink the roles of various agencies. Rather than defaulting to law enforcement, there should be a stronger emphasis on collaboration between health departments, community organisations, and other relevant sectors like agriculture and industry. This approach can ensure that responses are more holistic and sensitive to the socio-economic and cultural contexts of affected communities.
Future public health planning should incorporate lessons from past crises, including the HIV/AIDS pandemic in India. During the HIV/AIDS crisis, initial responses by the police were often punitive, exacerbating stigma and discrimination against already marginalised groups. Over time, however, there was a shift towards a more supportive role, with police being trained to engage in community outreach and education. This evolution highlights the potential for rethinking the role of police in health emergencies to make their involvement more constructive.
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Research should explore how different sectors, including law enforcement, influence the spread or containment of disease. This research could inform future police training, ensuring that law enforcement’s involvement in health crises is appropriate, informed, and effective. Policymakers must consider the impact of law enforcement on health outcomes and strive to develop strategies that prioritise medical expertise and compassionate care.
By exploring the assumptions underlying police involvement in public health crises, we can uncover the notions that shape inter-departmental collaboration. This could lead to more nuanced discussions and responses that are sensitive to the socio-economic and cultural contexts of public health interventions. As we prepare for future pandemics, it is crucial to bring together police, healthcare professionals, and concerned citizens to discuss the appropriate roles for each.
Understanding the complex dynamics of these roles will help ensure that future responses are more effective and equitable. The key question is not just about the apt role for the police but about understanding the broader implications of their involvement in public health emergencies. Who benefits from these interventions, and who is harmed? Acknowledging these complexities is essential for developing informed and effective public health strategies.
Vignesh Karthik KR is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow of Indian and Indonesian Politics at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies, Leiden. Rakhal Gaitonde is a Professor at Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala. Sarah Hodges is a Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine at King’s College London. S. Anandhi is a former Professor at Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai.
