RAWALPINDI: The use of drones, binoculars and other tactics by police to prevent people from firing in the air, kite selling and flying proved ineffective as residents celebrated Basant on Friday during which three persons lost their lives and several others were injured.

In a late night development, Inspector General of Police Aamir Zulfiqar Khan suspended the deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) of New Town and City police while Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Khurram Ali suspended SHOs of Ratta Amral, Sadiqabad and Airport police stations for failure to implement ban on kite flying.

Police said Akram Afzal, 20, died after a stray bullet hit him in the head during Basant festival in Ratta Amral.

A seven-year-old girl, identified as Wani, also died from a stray bullet in Mohanpura.

In another incident, Kamal Ali, 14, came in contact with an electric wire while trying to catch a stray kite when he was electrocuted in Fazalabad.

Amir Qureshi, working as an operator with the SP Potohar, was injured after a stray bullet reportedly fired by kite flyers hit him during a police crackdown in Dhoke Khabba. SP Potohar Mohammad Waqas Khan and ASP Anam Sher were leading the police raids when Mr Qureshi was hit by the stray bullet.

Police detain over 300 people, seize kites, weapons; 25 injured admitted to DHQ Hospital, 12 shifted to HFH

The injured was shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) where he was stated to be in critical condition.

Noman Omer, 27, a resident of Afzal Town, sustained multiple injuries after falling from the rooftop of his house while flying a kite. The injured was shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

In Gulzar-i-Quaid, a girl was injured after being hit by a kite string. The victim was traveling with her father on a motorcycle when she sustained injury to her nose.

Abdul Salam, 40, suffered an injury to his neck after being hit by a kite string near Committee Chowk. The injured was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital where he was stated to be in stable condition.

Officials said 25 injured had been brought to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital while 12 were being treated at Holy Family Hospital (HFH).

Despite VVIP movements at the Nur Khan Airbase, firing and kite flying continued in its surrounding areas and close to the flying path.

On the other hand, the police claimed to have detained over 300 people and recovered a large number of kites and weapons as reinforcement of Elite Force was called for providing security to the participants of PTI’s ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’. About 200 supporters and some main leaders of the party had gathered at Committee Chowk after Friday prayers.

As part of the crackdown against kite sellers and flyers, the police continued monitoring the situation.

But kite flying and firing continued without any pause in thickly-populated areas. Young boys and children carrying sticks could be seen chasing stray kites on busy roads endangering their own lives as well as that of others.

After failing to stop the residents from celebrating Basant, police were deployed on main roads to keep an eye on children chasing kites.

In order to keep them safe from cuts, the police and traffic wardens barred motorcyclists from entering Chandni Chowk and 6th Road flyovers by placing barriers on both sides of it.

People celebrated Basant in Dhoke Khabba, Dhoke Chiraghdin, Jhanda Chichi, Tench Bhatta, Arya Mohallah, Chah Sultan, Ratta Amral, Ganjmandi, Pindora, Naya Mohallah, Railway Colony, Pirwadhai and Satellite Town, ignoring the government ban on kite flying.

The RPO directed the SSP operations to take strict action against those involved in these activities. The spokesman for the RPO said police had been directed to take legal action against owners of houses and buildings from where kite flying and celebratory firing were reported.

There was mixed reaction of people as some were of the view that the government should partially lift the ban on Basant. However, others said the government should enforce its writ to completely ban kite flying.

However, most of the residents said the ban should be implemented on kite flying as it was dangerous for children.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2023