105 rolls of Chinese kite string seized, 1 arrested

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 28

The police have tightened the noose around shopkeepers selling Chinese kite flying string in the district. A police team conducted a raid in Naruana and seized 105 rolls of the banned string.

The police arrested Sandeep Kumar and registered a case against him under Sections of 188 and 336 of the IPC and Sections 5 and 15 of the Environment Protection Act.

Ahead of Basant Panchami, sale of the Chinese string is going on in a clandestine manner. Strangely, the state government has banned the string, as it is made of nylon and other synthetic threads.

“Ask for the string from a shopkeeper and you will be given a packet carrying the banned string in a watchful manner, as they fear someone may lodge a complaint about with the police,” said a teenager.

Sonu Maheshwari, a social worker, said: “The sale of Chinese kite string is still going on unabated in the city. It is preferred by both children and adults, due to its strength. The string poses a serious threat to residents as well as birds.”

Rakesh Narula, president of the Bathinda Vikas Manch, said the ban on the Chinese string should be strictly enforced as it was the reason behind a number of accidents, some of which were fatal. Those indulging in the sale of the string should be given severe punishment to create deterrence for other shopkeepers.

Astha Gupta, city resident, said: “The banning order issued by the district administration is not sufficient. This is not acting as deterrent to the illegal sale of the deadly string. Every year, a ban is imposed on the sale and storage of the Chinese string in the state. But there is no respite for innocent people falling victim to it.”

DSP (City) Gurjit Singh Romana said, “We are conducting raids to nab sellers of the banned string and no one is being spared.”

“In public interest, shopkeepers should desist from the sale. As a helping hand, anybody getting information of storage and sale of the string should inform the police,” he said.