Police seize over 10,000 kites, drug, liquor

Revellers defy ban, hold night long Basant parties

RAWALPINDI: Kite enthusiasts threw caution to wind to enjoy Basant night followed by day-long kite flying after Friday prayers in the Rawalpindi city and the cantonment areas.

Punjab government has banned kite flying due to numerous injuries and deaths caused by low-hanging kite strings slitting getting entangled in necks of the people and even slitting throats of some motorbike riders.

However, from Thursday evening to early hours of Friday, the nigh resonated with sounds of Punjabi music and occasional crackle of aerial firing as kite enthusiasts enjoyed their pursuit in flood lights.

All through the night, Rawalpindi police took no action in the old city areas under the jurisdiction of RA Bazar police, Naseerbad, Racecourse, and Civil Lines police stations.

According to local people, liquor and hashish was being used wantonly at these kite night parties with blaring music on huge sound systems.

However, once the kite flying sessions resumed after Friday prayers, police jumped into action on orders of CPO Muhammad Ahsan Younus.

Rawalpindi police seized around 10,000 kites, 45 spools of twine, drugs, liquor and weapons during the crackdown.

According to Rawalpindi police spokesman, Race Course police netted 14 accused and recovered 5,420 kites, a gun, a pistol, 16 litres of liquor, half a kilogramme of hashish and a sound system from their possession.

RA Bazaar police conducted several raids and rounded up 15 people for having 980 kites, 33 kite flying string rolls and 10 litres liquor. Similarly, Civil Lines police nabbed three kite sellers for possessing 3,000 kites. Airport Police in their operation against the violators held 12 and recovered 330 kites and 12 kite flying string rolls.

The spokesman said police would continue to ensure implementation of ban on kite flying. Strict action in accordance with the law would be taken against the rules violators, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2020.