GUJRANWALA: Satellite Town police have busted an organised network involved in the online sale and supply of banned kites and chemical-coated string arresting eight suspects during an information based operation ahead of Basant.

According to police, the accused were operating from Peshawar and supplying kite flying material to various cities in Punjab using public transport to evade detection. The operation was carried out under the supervision of the DSP Satellite Town, who said strict orders are in place to enforce a complete ban on Basant activities across the Gujranwala division.

Police officials said a passenger bus travelling from Peshawar to Lahore was intercepted within the jurisdiction of the Satellite Town police station. A search of the luggage compartment led to the recovery of a large quantity of banned material.

The suspects were running an online network. Orders were received through social media platforms and WhatsApp while consignments were transported via buses,a police officer told Minute Mirror.

From the suspects’ possession, police recovered around 20,000 kites,more than1,800 chemical coated strings and numerous charkhis (spools).The bus used for transportation was also seized.

Cases have been registered against the accused under relevant laws, and further investigations are underway to trace other members, buyers and suppliers of the network.Police said the crackdown is part of a broader campaign to prevent loss of lives caused by chemical string urging citizens to report any illegal kite-related activity.