Chennai police bans kite flying

The Chennai police have banned kite flying in public for the second time in three years following a spate of accidents in recent days in which two boys chasing kites died and five motorcyclists fell off their bikes as the threads, strengthened with a coating of glass powder, cut their necks.

Though kite flying is banned under Section XIV of the City Police Act since the days of the British Raj, police have always faced opposition from local communities in enforcing it. Besides, flying was earlier a bailable offence, attracting a maximum fine of Rs 250 and three months imprisonment. The mild deterrent could not stop kite flying.

Chennai Police Commissioner T Rajendran has ordered that kite flyers be arrested under sections 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code, all non-bailable offences. He told reporters that invoking these sections "will enable us to get the accused remanded to judicial custody". The sections provide for a maximum punishment of six months imprisonment or a fine of Rs 500 or both.

A similar ban was clamped in May 2007 after a glass-coated thread cut the neck of a two-year-old boy, leading to his death. The baby boy was being taken in a two-wheeler by his parents. After they noticed blood oozing from his neck, they took him to Government children's hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The ban remained only on paper.

Kite flying is celebrated as a festival in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jodhpur and other north Indian cities and it is a major attraction for foreign tourists.

- Asian Tribune -