Toy guns lead to 45 kids sustaining injuries

KABUL): Toy guns have led to injuries among 45 children during Eidul Fitr holidays in Kabul, amid illegal sales of firecrackers despite a government warning prior to the festival.

Children were seen playing with toy guns in Kabul streets and using the toys against each other to stage a battle.

The Noor Hospital director, Mohammad Yousaf, told Pajhwok Afghan News on Sunday they had treated 45 children injured while playing with toy guns.

He said most of the kids received injuries in the eyes because the toys did not cause injuries to other body parts. Of the total children treated, two remained hospitalised, he said.

Six children were observed firing at each other with toy guns in the Kampany area. Finally one group escaped, bringing the fight to an end.

When Nasir Ahmad, 8, one of the fleeing children, was asked about their retreat, he said they ran out of bullets.

Health official Farid Ahmad Noori said games were part of children’s life and had both positive and negative effects on their behaviour.

He said most children using toys like pistols and guns were found short-tempered, rowdy and coward.

The government should place a ban on imports of such toys and parents should avoid buying them for their children, he suggested.

The Ministry of Interior deputy spokesman, Najibullah Danish, said the ministry had issued a statement ahead of Eidul Fitr, announcing a ban on selling and buying plastic guns and firecrackers.

He said dozens of individuals found selling such guns had been arrested for ignoring the warning, adding the toys were illegally smuggled into Afghanistan and some consignments had been confiscated in border areas.

A Qala-i-Zaman resident, Ahmad Farid, said despite his opposition, he had to buy a toy gun for his three-year-old son because he was crying to have one. He said the government should prevent imports of toy guns from Pakistan and China.

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