India -- Unofficial punishment of military applicants or trainees: Five clips. Clip 4 and Clip 5 are New!
CLIP 1 OF 5:
Date: 2014 or earlier
Duration: 40 seconds
A military cadet is being chastised over the seat of his uniform trousers with a hockey stick. The youth has been made to adopt a "push-up" position. The film's appearance excited controversy in Indian military circles because there is supposed to be no corporal punishment in the army. This in any case looks as if it could be bullying (in India they call it "ragging") rather than proper punishment. The picture quality is poor.
HERE IS THE CLIP:
CLIP 2 OF 5:
Date: 2016 or earlier
Duration: 3 minutes
Here we see a mass caning of half a dozen Indian army cadets across the seat of their tracksuits. An unusual method of holding each recipient in place is by standing on his hands on the ground. This somewhat breaks down towards the end of the scene and things become rather more random. The implements used are not proper rattan canes but rough switches, which disintegrate quickly with use. What looks like a folded rope is also being wielded by one of the trainers. Each youth receives around 12 strokes in all, though evidently nobody is counting precisely.
It is interesting to note that, though clearly not an official punishment, the action is taking place in full view of anyone who happens to be passing. It may be more in the way of a hazing or "rite of passage" (initiation) ceremony than punishment. Or possibly recruits are chastising members of their own unit for letting them down, or for a failure of some kind.
HERE IS THE CLIP:
CLIP 3 OF 5:
Date: August 2022
Duration: 2 minutes
This is one example of countless video clips currently to be found on YouTube that serve as advertisements for private military training outfits. These seem to be all over India and are independent of the official army. This one is Sonbhadra Physical Academy in Uttar Pradesh. It features adolescent boys in school uniform who are required to bend over in the "murga" position. This teacher's aim with the cane is not brilliant: some strokes are too low. The atmosphere is light-hearted.
HERE IS THE CLIP:
CLIP 4 OF 5: New!
Date: January 2022
Duration: 4 minutes
Candidates for recruitment to the police force are seen being punished in this clip from the Sitamarhi Physical Academy, Bihar. About a dozen young men lined up in push-up stance get 1 or 2 strokes on the backside with a switch in a matter-of-fact atmosphere. There is some clutching of buttocks.
HERE IS THE CLIP:
CLIP 5 OF 5: New!
Date: May 2026
Duration: 1 minute
At the Mountain Warriors Academy in Jodhpur, two students are summoned in turn before a large assembly of their fellows and ordered to assume the push-up position to be given one sharp whack each on the seat with what looks like a rigid hollow tube. As the film starts, the first youth is arguing with the guru in charge but submits quickly when it becomes clear that there is to be no escape from punishment. The second miscreant, after receiving his spanking, briefly puts his hands behind to rub his buttocks as he rises to return to his place in the audience (pictured right).
The atmosphere is matter-of-fact, not jocular, though a few of the onlookers seem to be enjoying the spectacle.
Other external links - Military CP