LAHORE: A six-year-old girl died reportedly after a stray kite string slit her throat in Sanda on Sunday.

Police said Adnan was going along three members of his family on a motorcycle when a stray kite string slit throat of his daughter, Hareem, near Double Sarkan Stop. The minor girl suffered critical injuries and was shifted to Mian Munshi Hospital where she breathed her last.

The family and locals gathered on the spot and launched a protest against police after failing to control kite flying. They said hundreds of citizens were seen flying kites in the city, particularly in the Walled City and adjoining areas, but the authorities were not taking action against them.

Police reached the spot and dispersed the protesters after assuring them that action would be taken against the kite flyers.

Police lodged a case against unidentified person(s) for violating kite flying law on complaint of Adnan.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operation Ashfaq Khan took notice of the incident and suspended Sanda Station House Officer Sharjeel Zia from service. He sought a report from the superintendent of police (SP) concerned and urged the parents to stop their children from kite flying.

The DIG asked the SPs, DSPs and SHOs to take measures to arrest the people involved in kite flying and take action against the officers over negligence.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2020