Police in Pakistan's Punjab province have launched a massive crackdown on people selling and flying kites and made over 1,000 arrests after a local group announced it would observe the Basant festival in the traditional manner by flying kites.
The traditional practice of flying kites during Basant was banned three years ago after several people were killed or injured by glass and metal-coated kite twine.
The arrests were made in the provincial capital of Lahore and other parts of Punjab. Police seized over 40,000 kites and 10,000 twine spools over the last couple of days.
Among those arrested was Lahore Kite Flying Association president Sheikh Saleem, who had allegedly announced that Basant would be celebrated on March 6 and 7 in defiance of the ban.
Punjab police chief Tariq Saleem Dogar has said the crackdown will continue till March 7.
Dogar said pickets manned by special magistrates had been set at entry points of Lahore to check the transportation of kites and twines from or to the city.
"Special committees have been established at the union council level to ensure that the ban on kite flying is not violated," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"Special committees have been established at the union council level to ensure that the ban on kite flying is not violated," he said.
{{/usCountry}}The Lahore High Court recently dismissed a petition challenging the Punjab Prohibition of Kite-Flying Ordinance and seeking permission to celebrate Basant. The ordinance was promulgated in 2007 after several people were killed or injured by the sharp twine.