Courts punish kite flyers, release students
Rawalpindi police seized thousands of kites and string rolls from the men arrested during the two-day Basant Festival celebrated despite a ban by the Punjab government. PHOTOs: Agha Mahroz/EXPRESS
Civil courts sent 61 kite flyers to Adiala Jail on judicial remand and remanded 21 others in police custody on Saturday.
Around 43 kite sellers were fined Rs10,000 each, while 22 others were released on bail with direction to submit surety bonds worth Rs30,000 each. Police had rounded up 188 kite sellers and kite flyers in violation of Basant ban from Cantt areas on Friday. The Civil Judges and District Magistrates reprimanded 41 minor students, who were detailed during anti-kite flying operation, and their parents and issued them warnings.
The students were released after their apologies and written assurances of not becoming part of kite flying in future were accepted.
The students’ parents were also directed to submit student certificates of their children.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th 2024.