Local Authority Put Lockdown Violators In 'Abandoned & Haunted Houses'

Tired of those who violate the quarantine order, neglecting government regulations, officials in the Sragen region of Indonesia have decided to punish "quarantine violators" by locking them inside a haunted house to set an example for others.

“If they disobey self-isolation [orders], several villages have asked for my permission to quarantine them in an abandoned elementary school or abandoned houses,” said Kusdinar Untung Yuni Sukowati, leader of the Sragen district of Java Island, speaking out about the funny punishment. 

This measure was put in the context of the situation of the influx of people to Sragen district recently when Jakarta and many big cities started lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of them are not strictly obeying the 14-day quarantine rule, while the population density in this district is growing.

Before this, Ms. Kusdinar instructed local authorities to arrange abandoned houses in the area that were said to be "haunted" to keep people in isolation. Up to now, at least 5 people have been detained in these homes. They are still provided with daily food and water supplies and monitored regularly.

In Sepat village, the local leader chose a house abandoned long ago, arranging some beds inside, which are separated by curtains

Heri Susanto, who has just returned from Sumatra, was one of those who had once been locked in a "haunted house". At the end of his detention and return home, Mr. Heri said that he had learned his lesson and expressed sympathy with the local authorities, and affirmed this for the safety of the people. "Luckily, I haven't met a ghost," Heri joked.

“But whatever happens, happens,” he said. “Lesson learned.”

Interestingly, this is not the first time Indonesian officials have used the spiritual element in the hope that people will be scared and have to stay home during the lockdown. Earlier, a village in the country sent a group of volunteers dressed as pocong (which is basically Indonesian zombie) to patrol the streets and prevent people from leaving the house.

>>> Ghosts Are Roaming The Street To Make People Stay Inside During The CO.VID-19 Pandemic But They Seem To Like It