Delhi Police recovered 30 rolls of banned Chinese manja — glass-coated kite string — and arrested one person on 7 August 2026, in a targeted crackdown ahead of Independence Day. The operation was carried out by a team from Seelampur Police Station in northeast Delhi, following credible intelligence about illegal storage and sale of the hazardous material.

How the Raid Unfolded

Head Constable Roki and Constable Anuj were on routine area patrolling when they received specific information about a person storing and selling banned Chinese manja near Gali No. 09, Gautampuri in the Seelampur area. The tip was immediately relayed to senior officers, who authorised a raid at the location.

During the operation, Md. Jamir, 52, was apprehended. Investigators recovered 30 rolls of banned Chinese manja from his possession, marked 'Hero Plus – For Industrial Use Only'. Police records show no previous criminal history for the accused.

FIR No. 278/2026 dated 7 August 2026 under Section 223(a) BNS has been registered at PS Seelampur. Further investigation is underway, with authorities working to trace the supply chain behind the illegal consignment.

Part of a Wider Pre-Independence Day Crackdown

This arrest is not an isolated incident. Just days earlier, Delhi Police had recovered 384 rolls of the same banned product and arrested three persons in separate operations across the city. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to identify suppliers and dismantle the broader illegal distribution network that floods Delhi's markets ahead of the kite-flying season.

Notably, the pre-Independence Day period sees a sharp spike in Chinese manja seizures each year, as demand for kite string surges around 15 August — when mass kite flying is a popular tradition across North India.

The Human and Animal Cost of Chinese Manja

The danger posed by glass-coated kite string has been documented in fatal incidents across India. In January 2026, a five-year-old girl, Nishvika Aditya, died in Hyderabad, Telangana, after manja from a flying kite became entangled around her neck, causing a deep cut and profuse bleeding. She died on the spot.

In a separate incident on 14 January 2026, Avidesh, a 35-year-old migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh, died in Sangareddy district, Telangana, when manja wrapped around his neck as he rode a motorcycle, inflicting a fatal cut.

Beyond human casualties, thousands of birds suffer grievous injuries each season — their wings or necks severed by the razor-sharp string — resulting in painful deaths, according to wildlife advocates and veterinary organisations.

Legal Status and What Comes Next

Chinese manja has been banned across multiple Indian states and under central environment and wildlife protection frameworks due to the lethal risk it poses to humans, birds, and animals. Despite the ban, illegal manufacturing and distribution networks continue to operate, particularly in the run-up to kite-flying festivals.

Police have indicated that tracing the suppliers behind the recovered consignments remains a priority, with investigators looking to identify whether the manja originated from local stockpiles or was transported from outside Delhi.