Kite string injures two in two days in Lahore

CCPO demands report from police officials over negligence

LAHORE:

The deadly sport of kite flying wounded two more persons during the last two days, exposing the claim by the law enforcement officials that the  Punjab Police have managed to put an end to the problem.

Since the beginning of year, at least six persons including two minors have fallen victim to the injurious kite string in Lahore. On Monday, a 43-year-old man identified as Imran received kite string injuries on Empress Road.

Nearby people called the rescue services on the spot to take him for emergency treatment. He is currently under treatment at a hospital.

In another incident on Sunday, a teenage boy was also struck in the face by a kite string while he was going on his motorcycle.

Official sources said CCPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar has taken notice of the incident and asked the police officers to submit a report to him identifying the cause of negligence.

The Lahore police chief had announced a zero-tolerance policy with respect to kit flying activities across the provincial capital to curb incidents of injury among citizens. However, several cases of kite string wounds have been reported since he assumed charge.

On a question regarding strategy to control the deadly sport, Dogar said Lahore police had been sternly dealing with kite flyers, sellers and manufacturers.

“So far, 527 cases have been registered against violators and 551 suspects have been arrested during the ongoing year,” he said, adding, “Kites, strings and other manufacturing material has also been seized in a huge quantity.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2021.