Drones deployed to rid Ludhiana skies of Chinese kite string

Looking to rid the city of the Chinese kite string, also known as "China Dor", the police have now deployed drones across all four police zones of Ludhiana Commissionerate.

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Going forward, the police will conduct random checks by flying the drones in the city. Offenders found using the banned Chinese string to fly kites will face immediate arrests.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation) Shubham Aggarwal, the brainchild behind the initiative, told The Tribune that flying kites with the deadly string was not only dangerous to human but also to the birds and animals.

Several incidents wherein people sustained serious injuries after coming in contact with the string and birds being injured have been reported.

"Ludhiana Commissionerate had four Police Zones and Additional DCPs of all Zones have been told to deploy drones randomly in their areas and prevent the practice of flying kites with plastic string. On Tuesday, three persons were nabbed after they were captured for flying kites with the deadly string. Separate three cases were also registered against the accused," Aggarwal further said.

The DCP revealed that when the drones were scanning the area, some youngsters were captured flying kites with the banned string. Cops immediately reached the spots and found that the offenders to be minors, who admitted to flying kites with the banned Chinese string.

"On the request of the parents of the minor boys, they were let go after serving strict warning to the parents," he said, adding that Deepak Verma, a resident of the EWS Colony, was in fact arrested on Tuesday and a spool of the banned kite string was recovered from his possession as well.

Similarly, Sagar, a resident of Dairy Complex, Tajpur road, was arrested with a spool of the string.

A third accused had also been arrested from the Police Division 8 area while flying kites with the banned string and a case under sections of the Wildlife Protection Act and Environment Protection Act was registered.

It is pertinent to mention here that despite the strict ban imposed on the sale and purchase of plastic string, many shopkeepers paying least heed to the directions continued to sell plastic string.

Even kite enthusiasts in the region remained defiant as they continue to openly use the banned string to fly kites.