Arrests for kite flying in Pakistan spring festival
{{date|March 12, 2006}}
{{Wikinews Today short infobox}}
[[Image:PakistanPunjab.png|left|150px|thumb|Punjab region of Pakistan]]
A ban against kite-flying during a traditional festival to welcome the onset of spring in the [[w:Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] region of [[w:Pakistan|Pakistan]] has led to significant numbers of arrests.  Conservative figures put the number arrested following the imposition of Thursday's ban at around 500, higher figures of 1,400 are given in Australian reports which describe events following the ban as a crackdown.

At issue is the use of glass coated or metal kite strings, and this leading towards serious injury or even death.  In the 2004 celebration of the Basant festival up to nine people were killed including from electrocution when using metal strings.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/1400-arrested-in-crackdown-on-kites-in-pakistan/2006/03/13/1142098368426.html
|title=1400 arrested in crackdown on kites in Pakistan
|author=
|pub=Sydney Morning Herald
|date=March 13, 2006}} <small>(Sydney local time)</small>

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4800004.stm
|title=Kite flyers arrested in Pakistan
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=March 12, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3491057.stm
|title=Kite deaths mar Pakistan festival
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=February 15, 2004}}

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{{Archive-unreviewed}}
[[Category:Pakistan]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Brian McNeil (Wikinewsie)]]
Punjab region of Pakistan
A ban against kite-flying during a traditional festival to welcome the onset of spring in the Punjab region of Pakistan has led to significant numbers of arrests.  Conservative figures put the number arrested following the imposition of Thursday's ban at around 500, higher figures of 1,400 are given in Australian reports which describe events following the ban as a crackdown.

At issue is the use of glass coated or metal kite strings, and this leading towards serious injury or even death.  In the 2004 celebration of the Basant festival up to nine people were killed including from electrocution when using metal strings.

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Pakistan Asia Crime and law Punjab, Pakistan Brian McNeil (Wikinewsie)