Pindi police gear up to thwart kite-flying
Rawalpindi district police have devised a plan to foil possible plans to celebrate the banned festival of Basant in Rawalpindi city on Feb 22 and 23 and control aerial firing.
According to a police spokesman, more than 1,500 police personnel will be deployed on large rooftops in densely populated areas to check kite flying on Thursday night and Friday. They will be equipped with binoculars as well as other resources to apprehend those violating the law by flying kites. Drone cameras will also be used to track potential aerial firing and incorporation of chemical string in kites, he added.
The spokesman informed that police on the directives of City Police Officer, Syed Khalid Hamdani had finalised a plan to put a stop to expected activities that may take place despite the clear-cut ban on Basant.
"Keeping in mind the need to protect the citizens from any untoward incidents, more than 1,500 police officials have been deployed to thwart any plans for Basant and drone operators will be monitoring potential kite-flying," he said.
Read: Kite flying accidents leave two dead
Police officials have reiterated time and again that flying kites is a potentially dangerous sport that can lead to the loss of life, and those found disregarding its cost to human lives will be prosecuted according to law.
The parents, teachers, scholars and civil society were also taken into confidence to play their role in preventing the celebration of Basant. The Rawalpindi police had also launched an awareness campaign about the hazards of the risky sport with the help of religious scholars, who were asked to make announcements on their respective mosques' sound systems about the demerits of kite-flying.
The police have finalised arrangements for live monitoring of all densely populated areas, while all Station House Officers (SHOs) have been directed to ensure strict surveillance of kite sellers in their areas.
The police teams are trying to trace and arrest culprits involved in buying and selling killer strings and kite through social media.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2024.