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03-28-24 04:51 AM
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Xeogaming Forums - General Chat - Pakistan has kite festival, 11 dead | |
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Rogue
If you're reading this... You are the Resistance











Since: 08-17-04

Since last post: 395 days
Last activity: 203 days
Posted on 03-14-07 02:58 AM Link | Quote
Did anyone hear about that fatal kite festival in Pakistan? I had heard about it a couple weeks ago, but didn't believe it at first.

Found an article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6396727.stm

Originally posted by BBC
Pakistan kite festival 'kills 10'
At least 10 people, a number of them children, have been killed during a kite-flying festival in the Pakistani province of Punjab, police say.

At least 10 people, a number of them children, have been killed during a kite-flying festival in the Pakistani province of Punjab, police say.

Stray bullets and sharp twine were among the causes of the deaths during the annual Basant festival.

The Pakistan Supreme Court banned kite-flying in 2005 after nine people were killed during festivities in 2004.

But the ban was lifted for 15 days in 2007 after the Punjab government promised to take preventive measures.

More than 700 people were arrested over the past two days for using illegal weapons and sharpened twine during the festival, police officials in Lahore told the Associated Press news agency.

Throat slashed

While the Supreme Court had lifted the ban between 24 February and 10 March, the Punjab government only allowed the festival to be celebrated on 24 and 25 February.

Lahore Mayor Mian Aamer Mahmoud told AP that permission ended on Sunday and the ban would then be reapplied.

Despite this, there were numerous incidents in which people were killed or injured during the two-day long celebrations.

Dozens of people had been hurt in addition to at least 10 people killed, Lahore's police chief Malik Iqbal told the BBC.

Fatalities included an 11-year-old boy, who had his throat slashed by sharpened twine, Pakistan's leading English newspaper, Dawn reported.

A 16-year-old girl also suffered a similar fate, AP reported.

The youngest victim was a six-year-old boy who was struck in the head by celebratory gunfire outside his home in Lahore, the Dawn newspaper said.

Celebratory firing and use of sharpened twine had been strictly prohibited by the Supreme court in its conditional repeal of the ban on the festival.

They remained the principal cause of the deaths and injuries, which were also caused by electrocution and falls.

Police chief Iqbal said deaths caused by gunshots would be treated as murder.

Basant, which means saffron, is usually celebrated on rooftops and the fierce competition has led to the use of twine with metal and glass to have the extra edge.

The festival, an annual low-key tradition to herald the approach of spring in the Punjab, has become a high-profile money spinner involving celebrities, corporate sponsorships and much media attention.


The count got to at least 11 according to other sources.
天国JOE

���A�ǂ��ɂȂ�̂���낤�H








Since: 09-02-04
From: Destroy Tower

Since last post: 3786 days
Last activity: 3151 days
Posted on 03-14-07 03:04 AM Link | Quote
What the hell kinda fucked up Kite Festival is that!? Jeez, it suddenly makes me think of the South Park massacres, but in real life. That's pretty crazy.
Rogue
If you're reading this... You are the Resistance











Since: 08-17-04

Since last post: 395 days
Last activity: 203 days
Posted on 03-14-07 03:10 AM Link | Quote
I should add that along with the 11 dead, there were 100+ injured.
Cairoi
This isn't about you and your loud mouth,
This is about me and my fucking beard.








Since: 08-29-04
From: PA

Since last post: 4610 days
Last activity: 4233 days
Posted on 03-14-07 09:05 AM Link | Quote
If you want to know more about the middle east and kite festivals, I suggest you go read Kite Runner. Amazing book, and most of it based on what life was like for the author.

That's a tragedy. :/ When will people realize that their fights are killing off the next generation, and possibly their own hope? It's not just the Middle East, either. Children, the most innocent damn people on this planet are continually being killed by the elder generation's wrongs. It makes me sick.
Makura









Since: 01-22-05
From: The restaurant at the end of the universe....

Since last post: 5648 days
Last activity: 4913 days
Posted on 03-14-07 09:16 AM Link | Quote
I really don't think that there should be any such thing as 'celebratory gunfire.' I mean honestly. The kite festivals over there are a big deal, or used to be, cuturally. It just goes to show you the state of living. Sharpening kite strinf with intention to harm someone that's pretty morbid.
Lord Vulkas Mormonus

Vile
High Xeodent of Xeomerica.








Since: 10-29-04
From: North Carolina, United States. World, Sol System, milky way

Since last post: 169 days
Last activity: 152 days
Posted on 03-14-07 01:17 PM Link | Quote
I didn't even know that sharpening string was possible...

Anyway, that's fairly disgusting, but also no suprise. When yo have a bunch of uncivilized people given the opportunity to kill someone, they'll take it.

And people say America has problems...at least we can fly kites.
Rogue
If you're reading this... You are the Resistance











Since: 08-17-04

Since last post: 395 days
Last activity: 203 days
Posted on 03-14-07 01:56 PM Link | Quote
Originally posted by Vulkar
I didn't even know that sharpening string was possible...

Supposedly they put ground-up glass and wires on the kite strings. Or something like that.

You'd think common sense would dictate not to sacrifice safety for the possibility of taking down a couple competitor kites, but no.
Bitmap

#1 Enhancement Shaman US Ravenholdt








Since: 09-05-04
From: His Laughin' Place

Since last post: 4318 days
Last activity: 4312 days
Posted on 03-14-07 07:43 PM Link | Quote
So wait...Riddle me this.

is this "Attack of the Killer Kites"? or did someone go Apeshit and decide to kill people using "Stray bullets" and kites?

Im a little confused, and lightheaded, I cant stop laughing.
Xeios

You WANKER!








Since: 08-16-04

Since last post: 4835 days
Last activity: 1145 days
Posted on 03-15-07 01:31 AM Link | Quote
How did "stray bullets" get into a kite festival. Is that some sort of newfangled way of getting the kite down.

I assume there is razor wire for strings because they're more...aerodynamic? i got nothing.
NUCKLEARKNIGHT

Marco








Since: 12-17-04
From: Petaluma, California

Since last post: 5672 days
Last activity: 5265 days
Posted on 03-15-07 02:22 PM Link | Quote
Maby they used the "sharpened string" in case your kite string ran into another persons it would cut it thusly rendering his kite "stringless" and causing it to soon fall. As for the guns... nothing feels better than letting off a few rounds after seeing your opponents kite go spiraling down to the ground.

edit: I think the rounds were fired into the air mostly but when your drunk...


(Last edited by NUCKLEARKNIGHT on 03-15-07 05:24 PM)
z33r0

Octorok








Since: 04-07-06

Since last post: 5169 days
Last activity: 5157 days
Posted on 04-05-07 04:44 AM Link | Quote
Never did I expected to see "kite festival" and "11 dead" in the same sentence

what the fuck kind of kite flying party incorporates razor wire, broken glass, and guns? that's fucking sick, all these little kids would go out thinking it's just fun or something "yaaay look at the kite, look at it it's so- hey, wasn't there a hand attached to my arm a minute ago?"

and what are the parents doing letting them outside?


it's right up there with picnic massacres
dead kittens sold as stuffed animals
parade foats that double as car bombs
rabies in the petting zoo
kiddie porn ring run out of disney land
barny the dinosaur charged with assault
Kelowna, smokey the bear arrested for arson
Louisianna, 5th grade children charged with lewd.. oh shit nevermind

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