FAISALABAD: Scores of kite flyers were taken into custody, including from their rooftops, and about five people injured on Friday.

Kite flyers also fired in the air in various areas, however, police claimed to have managed to control the practice.

Nadeem Bibi, 60, of People’s Colony was injured when a stray bullet hit her. She was taken to the DHQ hospital with a head injury. Adil,18, of Dhudiwala; Naveed Khalid, 25, of Waris Pura; Moeed Ahmed,17, of Fawara Chowk; and Siddiq Sarwar, 35, of district courts were also injured.

Moeed Ahmed received a wound on the neck and Siddiq Sarwar on the nose, and both were admitted to the DHQ hospital.

Social media users had posted videos and announced that Basant would be celebrated in Faisalabad on Friday. Although police foiled their bid, the posts gave people the impression that the government had officially announced Basant.

Police also took prayer leaders on board and had announcements made through mosques that cases would be registered against those involved in aerial firing and/or kite flying. Police also asked parents to keep an eye on their children so they abstained from flying kites otherwise they would be also booked.

Scores of mobile police units conducted patrolling carrying ladders on their vehicles to net kite flyers from their rooftops.

The district police had launched a crackdown on kite and string manufacturers and seized thousands of kites and reels of string. All of the seized material was set on fire on two different occasions in the Mansoorabad police precincts. Raids were also conducted on Thursday night in various areas and kites and strings seized.

Nisar Ali, a resident of Gulberg, said police alone could not control kite flying as it was the responsibility of the society to play its role in containing such harmful practices. He said police were patrolling only to protect children as kite flying could lead to any eventuality.

He claimed that it was shameful that some constables of Gulberg police had sold the seized kites to some youths. Such people must be brought to book and terminated as they were neither loyal to the department nor the public, he stressed.

A police officer said they had performed their duty efficiently and conducted patrolling while also ensuring protection of mosques because of Friday prayers. He said majority of the people cooperated and did not object when police sought permission to go to their rooftops to warn the kite flyers. He added that police showed restraint while taking kite flyers into custody that mostly included teenagers.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2020