FAISALABAD: A nine-year-old boy was electrocuted when he touched a live wire in a bid to catch a stray kite at Digoluspura on Friday.

Police, however, claimed the boy’s death had nothing to do with kite flying.

Reports said Farid Khan was on his rooftop for kite flying when he accidentally touched a live wire and suffered severe electric shock while trying to catch a kite. He died on the spot.

In general, the police drew the flak for failing to control kite flying and aerial firing in various parts of the city and scores of people they arrested, managed to secure their liberty. Gunshots were heard from time to time in various parts of the city where people informally celebrated Basant in violation of the ban.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, a trader of Gulberg, said police officials claimed to have adopted zero-tolerance policy to control kite flying and aerial firing but people violated the ban without check. He said policemen raided houses and entered premises using ladders to arrest the violators but very few of them could be apprehended.

SP among three suspended from service

Another shopkeeper of Razaabad, Asim Shafiq said police were well aware of the fact that Madanpura was a hub of kite and twine business but the trade went on without disruption.

He said that a few years ago residents of Madanpura pelted police with stones and thrashed some of them when officials raided some places involved in kite and string manufacturing.

A kite manufacturer, who spoke to this correspondent on the request of anonymity, alleged the traders got away with it every time by greasing the palms of policemen. He said most manufacturers were exporting the material to Afghanistan which was the main market.

A police officer said it was difficult for the department to crack down on the illegal traders and violators on a large scale. He said people also should show responsibility by avoiding the dangerous sport. He said a meeting had been arranged with the area notables to draw up a plan to tackle it and an awareness campaign was launched through banners and announcements through mosques urging people to refrain from kite flying.

Police claim that 606 cases have been registered against violators and 711 people arrested from Jan 1 to Feb 9. On Friday, they said, 253 cases were registered and 298 people arrested. Police claimed they confiscated 31,221 kites and 2,500 string reels.

Meanwhile as word about the child’s death due to electrocution got round, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif suspended Kotwali SP Ahmad Mohyuddin, DSP Saleem Mahmood Warraich and Jhang Bazaar SHO Malik Jahangir. He also sought a report from the CPO and deputy commissioner, says a handout.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2018