RAWALPINDI, March 12: A 12-year-old boy lost his life after falling from the rooftop of his house while flying a kite, while more than 15 people sustained injuries in kite flying-related incidents in different parts of the city on Sunday, police and hospital authorities said.
Muhammad Wasim, a resident of Muslim Town, Sadiqabad, was flying a kite on the rooftop of his house when he fell down. He received critical head injuries and was shifted to the Rawalpindi General Hospital where he died.
At least 10 people injured in kite flying-related incidents were brought to the Rawalpindi General Hospital on Sunday. Similarly, five cases were brought to the DHQ Hospital.
Since the Punjab government imposed a ban on kite-flying, three people have lost their life and over 225 sustained injures in Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, a stray bullet fired by some kite enthusiast landed near some people taking tea at the canteen of Rawalpindi General Hospital.
In another such incident a man, identified as Khalil Ahmed, was injured after a stray bullet hit him in Kohati Bazaar. Though the Inspector General of Police, Ziaul Hassan Khan, has directed the DIGs and DPOs to launch a special drive against kite-flyers and those involved in firing, the local police have been unable to deal with them.
Policeman injured: An official of Islamabad Police was shot and injured in a shoot-out with a gang of proclaimed offenders on Sunday, police said.
The encounter took place at Charah in the jurisdiction of Shahzad Town police at around 2 pm and continued till sunset.
When Khurshid Khan, Station House Officer Shahzad Town, was contacted, he said police were tipped off about the presence of a gang of proclaimed offenders led by Tahir Doda in Charah village. The SHO said that he constituted a team and reached the place where the gang was hiding.
When the culprits, who were taking positions on a hilltop, saw the police, they opened fire injuring Sub-Inspector Anees Akbar. Shortly after the encounter, reinforcement was called in, however, the accused managed to escape.
The injured official was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) where he was said to be in stable condition.