Hyderabad Police Arrest 148 in Chinese Manjha Crackdown
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Synopsis
Hyderabad police apprehended 148 individuals for selling illegal Chinese Manjha, a nylon kite string that poses dangers to public safety and wildlife. In recent raids, 7,334 bobbins were seized, highlighting ongoing concerns despite past bans and incidents. Local dealers benefit from increased demand for alternative kite string.
Key Takeaways
- 148 individuals arrested for selling banned Chinese Manjha.
- 7,334 bobbins of Chinese Manjha seized valued at Rs 90 lakh.
- 107 cases filed against offenders since October 2024.
- Chinese Manjha poses serious risks to public safety and wildlife.
- Local dealers see a rise in demand for thread manjha.
Hyderabad, Jan 13 (NationPress) The police in Hyderabad have arrested 148 individuals involved in the illegal trade of the banned Chinese Manjha, a synthetic nylon kite string that is coated with hazardous materials like powdered glass or metal, posing grave risks to public safety, wildlife, and the environment.
Since October 2024, a total of 107 cases have been filed at various police stations across the city.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Y.V.S. Sudeendra from the Commissioner’s Task Force, 7,334 bobbins of Chinese Manjha, valued at approximately Rs 90 lakh, have been confiscated during recent operations.
Despite existing restrictions in numerous areas, the sale and utilization of Chinese Manjha during kite festivals and other gatherings continue to be a major concern.
There have been past incidents where individuals lost their lives due to the use of Chinese Manjha in kites. This poses threats not only to human safety but also to birds, animals, and the environment.
Last year, an Army personnel tragically lost his life when his throat was cut by Chinese Manjha in Hyderabad.
Kagithala Koteswar Reddy, a 30-year-old Naik, died when Chinese Manjha severed his throat while he was riding a scooty on the Indira Reddy Flyover in Langer House. Koteswar Reddy hailed from Pedda Valteru in the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh.
The Forest Department has implemented various initiatives to enforce the ban on Chinese Manjha during kite flying, especially during the Sankranti festival. In 2016, the state government issued a complete ban on manjha to protect birds and ensure human safety.
Additionally, the Environment, Forests, Science and Technology department has prohibited the procurement, stocking, sale, and use of manjha.
In light of previous incidents, Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand alerted all Task Force teams and law enforcement officers ahead of time.
Seven Task Force teams, led by DCP Sudeendra and Additional DCP Ande Srinivasa Rao, along with the SHOs from several police stations, conducted multiple raids resulting in the arrest of 148 individuals and the filing of 107 cases.
“Consequently, the availability of Chinese Manjha has drastically decreased, nearly to zero. So far, no harmful incidents threatening human and animal life have been reported, unlike in the past,” stated the DCP.
Officials noted that local merchants are pleased with the increased demand for thread manjha due to the scarcity of Chinese Manjha.
