Chandigarh, February 10 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): Three persons have died and over a dozen injured in incidents involving Chinese “dor” (string) used for flying kites in various parts of the state since January 1.
Notwithstanding that the police arrested 197 offenders during the same period, the nylon string banned under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, continues to sell rampantly. Reports from Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala showed that a spool of the string costs between Rs 450 and Rs 600.
Police sources said Ludhiana courts recorded 17 convictions for selling Chinese string over the past one year with minor fines of Rs 1,000 or Rs 2,000 in various cases. Jalandhar courts imposed fine on four persons, while the number was 20 in case of Amritsar. A top-level police official said when people were not scared of indulging in drug trade, which invited life imprisonment, selling the banned Chinese string was a minor issue for them, particularly when they knew they would be left off with a warning.
A press note issued in January said offenders could face up to five-year imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.
A shopkeeper selling Chinese string in Ludhiana said, “If we say we don’t have Chinese string, customers move to the other shop. ‘Saadi mucch da sawaal hai’ (using Chinesse string is a question of our prestige), youngsters tell us.”
Kite flying dates back to the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Kite flyers discarded the tradition of using “manjha” (coated cotton thread) for the sharper Chinese string. The reason: Superior quality of nylon thread having special coating makes it easy to cut strings of other kites.
Talking to The Tribune, Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said, “The police have been very proactive in checking the sale of Chinese string this year. A special drive started a little before Lohri. At least 184 FIRs have been registered in various parts of the state till Friday evening.”
DGP Shukla said, “Policing is not the only way to stop people from using Chinese string. Change will come only when people realise their mistake and decide not to buy it. We have undertaken initiatives for public involvement. The special camps organised in Ludhiana and Jalandhar attracted good response.”
The existing situation is best represented in words of an SHO who said, “When my son failed to cajole me into buying him Chinese string, he got his mother ordering me. I had no choice, but to buy a spool for him.”
Summary: Despite the tragic deaths and numerous arrests, the sale of dangerous Chinese strings remains unchecked in Punjab, raising concerns over public safety.