Killer string claims PhD scholar’s life

Aftab Ahmad, a PhD in chemistry and a lecturer at Government Dayal Singh College, died after a kite string slit his throat on Wahdat Road near Muslim Town flyover on Friday morning.

The victim died on the spot. The victim, a resident of Kanganpur, Kasur had been living in a rented place near Chungi Amar Sidhu. On the day of the incident, he was on his way to teach his class at the college. A kite string ran over his neck. Aftab had completed his doctorate rate in chemistry from the United States of America about a year ago. The news was received with much uproar and grief by students and teachers community. They lashed out at the authorities over their failure to ensure a comprehensive ban on kite flying despite the passing of at least two decades. Adnan Mohsin, the deceased academician’s colleague, regretted the “great loss”.

“For God’s sake, please do something in controlling this life-threatening sport around us.” Another colleague Pervaiz Akhtar commented: “I wish you had stayed at the US. No one even mourns your death as no one here understands what it is to complete a PhD degree abroad and return to the country.” Rauf Mayo, a former teacher, said: “It is very sad… really hurting. May Allah bless the departed soul. A PhD scholar rides a motorcycle while a matriculate patwari travels in a luxurious vehicle. This speaks volumes of our societal decay.” A student, Meesam Zaidi said: “the killer string has taken a precious life.” Meanwhile, CCPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar suspended SHO Ichra Azhar Ishaque, sought an explanation from DSP Ichra and issued a letter of explanation to SP Model Town over the incident. He also paid a visit to the crime scene. Dogar termed kite flying as a death trap.

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“Many lives have been claimed by this deadly sport. Police are taking strict action against kite flying. “We are going to intensify this crackdown against kite sellers, flyers and manufacturers,” he added. “Police will use drones, patrolling, vigilance and awareness campaigns to discourage kite flying among citizens. He added that the whole society, particularly, parents had to play a role to end this menace. He said that during the ongoing year Lahore police had registered at least 900 cases and arrested 891 suspects besides recovery of kites, string roles etc in a huge quantity.

They were taking various steps to counter it. The steps to formulate strict laws were also in pipeline. They were also considering inserting sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act against kite flying offences. Meanwhile, Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit (PRU) launched a public awareness drive. The teams had been marching through different localities and making announcements against kite flying. The police teams with drone cameras have also stepped in- DSP Nawan Kot Umer Farooq Baloch himself monitored on Friday vigilance against kite flying in his jurisdiction. He through drone cameras identified two suspects and arrested them.

He also distributed pamphlets among citizens urging them to inform police against kite flying and the harms of it. A day earlier at 12:00 am on Friday night, SP Civil Lines Safdar Kazmi had held a press briefing at the CCPO Office to share unearthing of a kite manufacturing unit in Garhi Shahu. A dolphin squad team had also raided a similar unit in Euro store street on Thursday. On March 2, three people were injured in two incidents of kite flying reported in Ichra near Muslim Town flyover and Missri Shah. On March 1, a 45-year-old man was injured due to a kite string in Qila Gujjar Singh On February 28, a teenage boy was injured in Shahdara due to kite string. Three people including two minors were injured in two incidents on Ferozepur road and Azadi Chowk Bridge on January 24 and on January 22, a youth was injured in Mustafa Town.