Police step up crackdown on kite sellers

RAWALPINDI:

Rawalpindi police have intensified its crackdown on kite sellers and arrested at least 13 people for violating the ban on the sale of kites.

The police have intensified the drive after the Rawalpindi Kite Flying Association earlier announced to celebrate Basant in Cantonment and city areas despite a ban by the Punjab government and the local administration.

During the crackdown, the Rawalpindi police also recovered more than 3,800 kites and 26 strings from violators on Monday, a police spokesman said.

He said that Gujjar Khan police recovered 1,450 kites and three metal strings from Farooq and the same police recovered 1,500 kites and three metal strings from Haider while 300 kites and three strings from Farrukh, 42 kites and three strings from Ali Rashid, 32 kites and two strings from Muhammad Salim.

Similarly, Rata Amaral police nabbed Shabbir and recovered 50 kites and two metal strings from his possession; Pirwadhi police recovered 50 kites from Naveez; Civil Lines police recovered 33 kites and three metal strings from Usman; Saddar Wah police recovered 60 kites from Siddique and 40 kites from Nasir and Naseerabad police recovered 115 kites from Masood.

Similarly, RA Bazaar police recovered and arrested Adnan Aslam and recovered 85 kites and 10 metal strings and Dhamyal police recovered 65 kites and six strings from Sajid.

Police have registered separate cases against all of them and further investigations are under way, the police spokesperson said.

Earlier, the Rawalpindi Kite Flying Association announced celebrating Basant in Cantonment and city areas despite a ban.

After the announcement, a seek-and-hide is expected between the police and the Basant organisers and kite-flyers.

According to the association, Basant night will be held on February 16 and Basant will be celebrated with fanfare on February 17.

The association announced that if it rains on February 17, Basant will be celebrated on February 24. This year Basant will be celebrated separately in Rawalpindi city and Cantonment. There will be a gap of two weeks between the two Basant dates.

The Rawalpindi administration has imposed a ban on Basant celebrations and kite flying under Section 144.

Earlier, the Rawalpindi City Police Officer issued crackdown orders to 33 police stations across the district against those who manufacture kites and strings, or order them from other cities, sell and buy them.

The CPO Rawalpindi issued orders to take action against kite sellers and register cases against the ban violators.

With the announcement of Basant by the association, kite-flying enthusiasts have started placing orders for spindles and kites in large numbers. Kites are being ordered from Peshawar, Abbottabad, Gujranwala and other cities.

Sellers and citizens bring kites and strings from Khyber-Pkhtunkhwa as there is no ban on kite flying in the province.

Shopkeepers in Rawalpindi have started secretly selling kites and strings. These kites and strings are sold to acquaintances instead of strangers. Some people have started home delivery of kites and strings.

Earlier, Rawalpindi Kite Association head Muhammad Iqbal told The Express Tribune that Basant is a festival and the ban was not the solution to any problem. He said that the main problem was the use of string made of chemicals and metal, which is dangerous.

He said that the administration should ban the use of chemical and metal strings and violators should be sent to jail. He said that no action should be taken against people using simple and breakable strings.

Iqbal said that the association will fully cooperate in implementing the ban on the use of metal strings. He said that if the administration bans the whole Basant, they can provide no guarantee that people will resist celebrating the event.

He said that Basant will be celebrated at all costs. He said that the Basant festival is a source of employment for many people.

On the other hand, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Shoaib Ali said that there was no permission to fly kites or celebrate Basant in the garrison city. He said that strict action will be taken against violators. “It has also been decided to give ladders to the police to carry out the crackdown and take down violators from high-rises.

He said that mosques will also be involved to spread the message to the public.

He said that announcements against Basant and kite flying will also be made on loudspeakers outside schools, neighborhoods and markets. On the other hand, kite-flying enthusiasts from Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Gujarat will also come to Rawalpindi for Basant. With the announcement of Basant, people have started rehearsal flying kites in Rawalpindi city and Cantonment. In the evening, the sky could be seen full of kites.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2023.