Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 21: Many casualties were reported in various areas of Jammu during the festival of Raksha bandhan on August 17 and 18 due to kite flying after the people got stuck in the dreaded Chinese string which has been banned in the State.
But flouting the ban orders, some businessmen still sell deadly kite flying strings which later prove nightmarish for the people and during the recent Raksha Bandhan festival many casualties were reported from different parts of the Jammu after people got trapped in the Chinese string used for kite flying.
According to official reports two patients were admitted in Government Medical College & Hospital with deep injuries they received after being stuck by the Chinese string which was used by some people for kite flying on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
According to data available in GMC two persons including Khajoor Raj of Sunjwan were admitted in GMC with deep cuts on their nose face and neck after they got stuck in the Chinese strings in their respective areas. Later they were referred to ENT Department Shalamar for specialized treatment. Khajoor got some stitches on his nose and he still is doubtful whether the wound will heel fully or he may have to face some problem in rest of his life.
In addition to this over a dozen people were injured due to kite strings in different parts of the city and rural areas of Jammu who were admitted in ENT ward of GMC at Shalamar and other private clinics and discharged after getting first aid.
Though police is on its job to enforce the ban on sale of Chinese string but to evade the police eye traders hide the strings in the dickey of scooters, Scooties or back yard of their shops and deliver the customers on demand by getting it from the hidden places.
However, there is growing concern among the people that despite the ban on sale and use of Chinese string it is available in the market and people purchase it easily, thereby putting the lives of common masses to grave risk.
Despite the protests by various social organizations and NGOs the authorities have failed to impose a blanket ban on the sale of Chinese strings which is very strong and a mixture of some chemicals that cause grievous injuries in case it gets stuck around ones neck , head, face or any other part of the body. Not only this, but the string can prove fatal if a person driving a two wheeler is trapped in it.
The issue was also taken up with the district administration last time by RTI Movement led by Balwinder Singh who had also demanded enforcement of ban on the sale of Chinese string immediately to save the people from casualties and animals and birds from its ill effects. The organization also launched a crusade for the same in the State.
It may be recalled that State High Court while disposing a writ petition filed by Save Animal Value Environment (SAV) an NGO in the month of April this year has issued directives to the State Government to issue ban order on sale , purchase and use of plastic /synthetic Chinese sharp kite strings called `Manja’ in J&K within a period of one week.
The High Court has also issued directives to the Government that the ban order be got strictly implemented through police.
The Court had also taken serious exception to the non issuance of notification/SRO in spite of the recommendations made by the State Pollution Control Board to the Forest Department, Environment and Ecology and the fact that due to non banning of sale purchase and use of plastic /synthetic Chinese sharp kite strings in J&K human beings are put to dangerous situations apart from animals and birds. The Court while disposing of the petition further observed that having regard to the fact that in other states ban orders were issued and the Court being the protector of human lives, animals and birds is bound to grant the prayer as sought in the writ petition.
It may also be recalled that Department of Forest and Environment and Ecology after consultation with State PCB has also imposed a ban on procuring, stocking, sale and use of nylon strings sued for flying kites, made of any non biodegraded material as per the J&K Non Biodegradable Material Management Handling and Disposal Act 2007.
However, when contacted the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said that administration has taken strict measures against the sale of deadly Chinese strings in market and raids have also been conducted and cases registered against the traders who are involved in sale of the banned strings.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu Sunil Gupta said that raids were conducted on various shops prior to Raksha Bandhan as well as on the day of festival also. He said 10 cases were registered against the shopkeepers involved in the sale of Chinese strings and 12 people were arrested. Besides 1500 rounds of strings were seized in different areas of Jammu.
But the people have apprehensions of more casualties on the eve of Janam Ashtami falling on August 24 which is the peak season for kite flying if the Chinese string from the market was not seized by the police after conducting raids in different areas.
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