LAHORE: The Punjab police have intensified crackdown across the province on kite flying after two deaths in Sargodha and Faisalabad due to the strings of stray kites on Saturday.

Checking social media platforms has become a daunting task for the Punjab police as it is believed big dealers are selling kites, chemical strings and drugs. Reports say that hundreds of websites are doing the illegal business to reach potential buyers.

A recent video clip of a young man who suffered a deep cut on his throat has brought the dangerous sport to the limelight where he is in a pool of blood. The young man died instantly.

Similarly, another death of a child due to an alleged stray kite in Sargodha stirred concerns among the Punjab police.

Online trade a daunting task for police

The two incidents forced Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to call a meeting on law and order and crime situation here on Sunday where she ordered a crackdown on the making, selling, and buying of a chemical string. She also reviewed crime and law and order situation of the province and incidents of child/women abuse and narcotics.

The inspector general of police (IGP) briefed the meeting about police actions initiated to stop kite flying and control the crime situation. The chief minister ordered the IGP to submit reports on a daily basis regarding action taken against those violating anti-kite flying laws and on crime situations after evaluating the performance of the police officers.

It was also agreed to formulate a foolproof mechanism against drug peddling and Ms Nawaz ordered registration of cases with irrefutable evidence against big drug-peddlers and a legal mechanism to check the online supply of drugs in educational institutions.

“Mere registering a case is inadequate; the accused must also be punished,” she said and directed the police to undertake stern action for the reduction in the molestation cases. She also added that no-go areas anywhere in Punjab will not be tolerated. Following the chief minister’s order, the IGP in a follow-up meeting ordered regional and district police officers to intensify crackdown on the violators.

An official said that during the meeting, the IGP heard that between Jan 1 and March 21, the police lodged 7,979 first information reports (FIRs) against the manufacturers, sellers, and those flying kites, which were 74 percent more than those FIRs lodged during the same period last year. Similarly, the police arrested 8,447 suspects this year and the number was 2,935 in 2023, showing 188 percent increase.

The IGP directed the investigation wing to prepare strong chalans and ensure punishment in the courts to the violators in order to improve the conviction rate, the only remedy to bring down the crime in Punjab. He directed the police officers to engage the Federal Investigation Agency to spot, trace, and arrest those who were selling kites, chemical strings, and drugs online through social media.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2024