Stray kite string kills minor

LAHORE:A three-year-old boy was killed after a kite string slit his jugular vein in the Masti Gate area here on Sunday.

The victim was identified as Khizar Hayat, son of Awais, of Karim Park Shafiqabad. The death of innocent Khizar Hayat exposed negligence of the Lahore police once again, while the Punjab government also seemed reluctant to take action against the supervisory officers who usually made their subordinates scapegoats.

Khizar along with his father, mother and a sister was on his way home from the house of his in-laws living in Faizbagh on a bike when a stray kite string entangled around his neck and slit his jugular vein near Masti Ghatti. Pedestrians rushed the injured Khizar to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. His death sought explanation from SP City and DSP Ali Akhtar. Masti Gate police registered a case under Section 302 PPC and Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying Ordinance-4-2001 on the complaint of ASI Muhammad Mansha. DIG Operations suspended Masti Gate SHO Inspector Muhammad Zahid Nawaz.

The last victim of stray kite string died on Sunday in the provincial metropolis on April 25, 2021. The victim identified as Manzoor was passing through Canal Road when a stray kite string fell on him near Harbanspura underpass and deeply cut his throat. He was rushed to a local hospital in the Cantt area but succumbed to his injuries. He hailed from Nankana Sahab. DIG Operations Lahore suspended the Harbanspura SHO for not controlling the kite flying in his jurisdiction.

On March 5, a Dyal Singh College lecturer Aftab Ahmad died when a metallic kite string slashed his throat near Ichra on Ferozepur Road. Aftab hailed from Kanganpur, Kasur. The victim was on his way to the college in the morning when the incident occurred. He reached the Ichra flyover when a stray kite string got entangled around his neck and left a deep wound. Some motorists called the police and Rescue 1122 and a citizen filmed the scene. The mobile phone video went viral on social media in which the seriously injured lecturer was waiting for help. He was taken to a local hospital by a motorist where he died. The police command only suspended the SHO concerned instead of holding the senior officers responsible.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has taken notice of the incident and sought a report from CCPO Lahore.He expressed deep grief over the tragic incident.

The CM also extended heart-felt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved family. Usman Buzdar expressed his indignation over the incidents of kite flying in Lahore. He ordered for taking strict action against the responsible persons and said that such incidents were not tolerable. He ordered for enforcing the ban on kite-flying strictly. Strict indiscriminate action should be taken against those who violate the law, he added.