Punjab Police teams have recovered 1502 Chinese dor (kite flying string) bundles after registering 50 First Information Reports (FIRs) and arrested 56 people for selling this fatal string, coated with powdered glass, which has led to several accidents in the recent past, besides injuries to wildlife.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill said that after Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered ban on the sale, storage and purchase of such kind of China dori made of synthetic material, Punjab Police has further intensified the ongoing drive against this fatal kite flying string.
He said since the drive started against Chinese kite strings, the Punjab Police has recovered a total of 12866 Chinese dor bundles after registering 284 First Information Reports (FIRs) and arrested 311 people since 19 December.
Gill said as per the directions of CM, Punjab Police are taking strict action against those buying or selling Chinese kite flying strings. The IGP said the station house officers (SHOs) in the state have been directed to conduct raids to ensure that no one is selling Chinese kite strings within their area of jurisdiction.
Earlier on 8 January, the Punjab Police had issued an advisory banning the manufacture, sale and use of Chinese kite flying strings in the state. It said people involved in selling Chinese kite strings will be punished. The advisory urged parents not to allow their children to use it for kite flying and make them aware of its outcome.
Ahead of the festival of Basant Panchmi when people fly kites in large numbers, the Punjab government had ordered a ban on the sale, storage and purchase of Chinese nylon kite strings.
Meanwhile, as part of the drive against drugs, Punjab Police have arrested 257 drug smugglers after registering 198 FIRs, including 19 commercial, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) act across the state in the last week.
The IGP said the police have also recovered 16.36- kilogram (kg) Heroin, 6.70 kg opium, 1.94 quintal of poppy husk, and 78918 tablets and vials of Pharma opioids besides recovering Rs 11.53 Lakh drug money from their possession.