Rawalpindi flouts kite ban to celebrate Basant

Skies filled with kites as police struggle to contain illegal activity

RAWALPINDI: The clear, blue skies over Rawalpindi on Friday were filled with kites of all shapes, sizes and colours on Friday morning as residents celebrated the traditional festival — which marks the onset of spring — with periodic chants of ‘bo kata’.

The sight, however, was not only unusual but also raised legal questions because a ban on flying and trading kites is currently in effect in the district. However, fears of the district administration were proved with police claiming that over 50 casualties were reported from across the city, including eight women and two children.

Youngsters could be seen taking up positions on rooftops, launching kites, pulling the string or dancing to celebratory music. There were also reports of aerial firing in the city and cantonment areas near areas where kites were being flown.

Residents said that despite a ban on flying kites and the use of metal strings, people could be seen openly flouting the ban. Shahzad, a resident, observed that people were flying kites along Jamia Masjid Road, Arya Mohalla, Imam Bara Mohalla, Bunni, Kartarpura, Mohalla Raja Sultan, Akalgarh, Dhoke Dalal, Dhoke Ratta, Sarafa Bazar, Amarpura, Mohanpura, Committee Chowk, Sadiqabad, Satellite Town and other areas.

He lamented that the way the ban has been flouted raises question marks over the performance of the authorities. Despite the ban, sales of kites and strings continued unabated.

Locals said that the usage of metallic strings to fly kites had injured several people during the week, adding that kite flying can lead to traffic accidents.

They further lamented that while the City Police Officer (CPO) had warned SHOs of action if the ban is violated in their jurisdiction.

Strict action should also be taken against those who were negligent of their duties, locals demanded.

Police crackdown

Meanwhile, the district police claimed that it had launched a crackdown against those violating the ban on flying kites or trading kites.

A police spokesperson said that the crackdown against violators continued on Thursday and Friday when Basant was celebrated. The official added that over 200 people had been detained for violating the ban, while 5,000 kites with 32 kite rolls of string, weapons and other contraband were recovered from their possession.

The Potohar police on Thursday raided suspected warehouses for kites and other related material in the Civil Lines, Airport, Morgah, RA Bazar, Banni, Westridge, Waris Khan, Race Course and other areas of the city. They arrested 60 suspects and seized over 5,000 kites and rolls of string.

Similarly, Rawal police claimed to have arrested over 200 people for violating the kite flying ban and recovered thousands of kites and a large number of rolls from their possession.

Apart from squads of police stations, Elite and Dolphin Force personnel also conducted raids to arrest kite flyers. Police were also unable to stop aerial firing in the district which caused injuries to at least 50 people injured.

(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2020.