Another life gone but banned Chinese string still in use

Harpreet Singh’s family is inconsolable. A daily wager, he was going to his work on his scooter when his throat was slit by a Chinese string on Saturday, resulting in his death at a Chandigarh hospital a day later.

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Harpreet’s death is a grim reminder of the administration’s inability to stop kite flyers from using the banned string, which is usually made of nylon and plastic, and made sharp with the use of glass, metal or any sharp material.

The restrictions were flouted with impunity on Monday too, when kite enthusiasts reached their rooftops to celebrate Lohri in Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

The defying of the ban by kite enthusiasts begins days before Lohri and Sankranti, leaving birds, animals and humans vulnerable to injuries.

In Harpreet’s case, initially a case was registered against unknown persons on Saturday. Later, the police nabbed a man from Alawalpur who was selling the banned string.

The police said the man will be interrogated now.

SSP Jalandhar (Rural) HPS Khakh promised to keep tabs on those selling the string.

“The Chinese string isn’t manufactured here as there aren’t any big markets. But we will arrest those violating the ban. They will be asked from where they get the string from,” the police officer said.

However, Harpreet’s wife demanded strict action against those violating the orders.

A resident of Jalandhar’s Adampur, Harpreet was the only breadwinner for his family of four, she said. “Our life has been ruined, I want strict action against those who still sell the banned string,” said Satinder Kaur pointing to their two children.

“My husband couldn’t take even a day off. Even when he was with us enjoying a Lohri function, he wanted to go to work so that he could earn for us,” added inconsolable Satinder Kaur.

Harpreet death is not a stray incident.

Last year, in a heart-wrenching incident, a 13-year-old boy from Adampur lost his life when the banned string cut through his blood vessels. No FIR was registered in this case.

Three injuries were reported from Ludhiana earlier this month. On January 7, Ashish (21), was critically injured when a Chinese string got slit his throat while he was riding a motorcycle.

The incident took place when Ashish, who repaired air-conditioners, was returning home after dropping his friend at Basti Jodhewal.

The critically injured youth was taken to two hospitals. Later, he was referred to the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).

On January 5, two people got entangled in the Chinese string in Ludhiana.

Inderjit Singh was badly injured. His nose was pierced by the string and he received 30 stitches.

At the same time, near the Haibowal Chuharpur road, a biker, rider, was injured in a similar fashion.