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FAISALABAD, March 10: Basant celebrations in many parts of the Punjab exposed the government’s limitations as the law enforcers could arrest very few of the kite-flying enthusiasts, who flagrantly violated the ban on the sport on Friday. Some casualties, too, were reported from different parts.
The Faisalabad district police rounded up over 200 boys from various parts of the city during an operation launched against kite flyers. The police teams in various city localities dashed into the houses and rounded up the youngsters and even some middle-aged enthusiasts. They also took into custody kites and chemical-coated thread.
In some areas, the police faced strong resistance in entering the houses but no untoward incident was reported from any part of the city.
The police sources confirmed the arrests but said the guys would be released in the late hours of Friday after taking written assurances that they would not fly kites.
Meanwhile, hide and seek between the police parties and the kite lovers continued in the city on the eve of Basant celebrations.
The police also set up special pickets on major roads and checked the vehicles.
SHEIKHUPURA: While kite lovers took maximum delight in Basant, those who stayed indoors faced frequent power interruptions.
Despite stern warning by the government, the people used fatal twine giving an impression that there was no rule of law in the district. Aerial firing reports poured in from several localities.
Information gleaned by Dawn revealed that 38 kite flyers suffered injuries. Among them was Rafiq, who was hospitalised in critical condition after twine hit his neck.
There were kite-flying competitions in the city which caused a great deal of inconvenience to the people.
GUJRANWALA: In Gujranwala’s Gakkhar Town and Kamoki, hooliganism and noisy celebrations marked the Basant making mockery of ban the government had slapped just the other day.
Several youngsters were injured either in firing mania or after falling from rooftops. Chemical-coated and metal wires caused frequent power interruptions. Meanwhile, the Anjuman-i-Tilaba-i-Islam activists and students of seminaries took out procession in protest against Basant festival in Gakkhar Town on GT Road.
DPO Dr Arif Mushtaq claimed that the police arrested some miscreants and recovered arms from their possession.
SIALKOT: People in Daska and Sambrial tehsils violated ban on the kite flying by celebrating Basant though the day ended on a peaceful ambience.
Aerial firing and non-stop playing of songs on loudspeakers added to the traditional zing.
KASUR: Basant fever gripped the people in Kasur as well where aerial firing and display of fireworks continued in the last two days. Electricity supply kept playing hide and seek. Several people were injured.
MULTAN: Different police stations registered four cases against violators in Multan.
