Chennai: Following the death of five-year-old K. Ajay after a loose manja thread slashed his throat a week ago at Perambur bridge and four other accident cases reported in a span of one month, around 400 kids, along with the community police of Pulianthope district, took an oath on Sunday to stop flying kites in city limits.
The mass-oath taking ceremony took place at Vyasarapadi with over 700 people participating. More than 150 police personnel from Vyasarapadi and Perambur educated the kids on safety parameters that they should follow on the roads and warned them not to fly kites with 'manja'.
“I and my friends used to fly kites and it was after a classmate of mine met with an accident when a four-wheeler hit him last month that we decided to give up this sport. I feel kite sales should be stopped in the city, only then will these incidents be controlled,” said 15-year old P. Dineshan from Vyasarapadi. He participated in the oath-taking ceremony.
Jayam Raja, who attended the ceremony, appealed to children to engage in other outdoor games like soccer and cricket and stop film directors from projecting the flying of kites in movies.
Over 150 police personnel from Vyasarapadi with the help of NGO Shine Trust that works towards child welfare supervised the oath ceremony.
“We advised the kids not to fly kites and also to inform nearby police station or community centers if anyone was found flying kites. We have also asked shops in areas like Vyasarapadi, Korattur, M.K.B. Nagar and Parrys to stop the sales of kites as it has led to accidents and deaths in the city,” said K.Suresh Kumar, Inspector, Vysarapadi, P3 police station.
Raids will be conducted in shops to make sure that kite sales with manja are totally stopped before Diwali, he added.
The oath ceremony was followed by a 15-minute drama staged by 'Subbu group', a local music troupe comprising 10 kids from Vyasarapadi to depict the dangerous aftermath of flying kites on the streets.
