Mufflers, detours, warnings: Day after teen’s death, Punjab cops tackle ‘China dor’ threat

CHANDIGARH: A day after the deadly ‘China dor' (a nickname given to glass and metal-coated kite string) claimed the life of a 15-year-old in Ludhiana's Samrala, Punjab Police started asking people riding two-wheelers to wear mufflers and not commute on flyovers. Despite an official ban, the string is brazenly sold in the markets of Punjab.Cops deployed on traffic duty in Amritsar were seen diverting two-wheelers, asking them not to commute on flyovers by citing the ‘China dor'. Punjab Police's "muffler strategy" comes when opposition parties in Punjab have started questioning the enforcement of the ban on kite string. On Sunday, Punjab Police, on its official handle, posted a video of cops putting mufflers around the necks of two-wheeler riders. The video came with a text advisory: "China door (sic) poses a serious risk to 2-wheeler riders. Wear a muffler for neck protection and ride safely."Amritsar additional deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Amandeep Kaur, when contacted, said, "This is an initiative of our (traffic wing's) education cell." She said the mufflers being given free to people were purchased either by police personnel who made contributions or by tying up with some NGO for such initiatives. "We also make efforts to divert two-wheelers from flyovers to service lanes to prevent riders from sustaining injury from Chinese dor," she said.