Police launch crackdown on banned Chinese manja

Police launch crackdown on banned Chinese manja

In a concerted effort to curtail the illegal sale and distribution of Chinese manja, the Hyderabad City Police conducted a special drive, resulting in multiple seizures and arrests. This initiative, directed by the Commissioner of Police CV Anand, involved the Commissioner’s Task Force teams from South, East, South-East, and South-West Zones, alongside local police station officers.

The operation led to the arrest of individuals involved in the sale and transportation of Chinese manja across Hyderabad. In total, fourteen cases were registered on Friday, with 987 bobbins of Chinese manja seized.

The largest single seizure was in Afzalgunj under the East Zone, where officers confiscated 360 bobbins. Other significant seizures took place in Tappachabutra - 162 bobbins, and Asif Nagar - 170 bobbins - under South-East and South Zones respectively.

Chinese manja, a synthetic nylon kite string coated with hazardous substances like powdered glass or metal, is banned in several States due to its significant threat to public safety, wildlife, and environment, said Add. DCP of Task Force, Ande Srinivasa Rao.

“Chinese manja poses grave risks to human safety, frequently causing severe injuries and even fatalities, particularly among motorcyclists and pedestrians. Wildlife, especially birds, often fall victim to the sharp strings, suffering entanglements, amputations, and deaths. Additionally, the non-biodegradable nature of the material exacerbates environmental degradation by clogging drains and persisting in ecosystems,” said the officer.

The sale and use of Chinese manja is prohibited under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, which prescribes stringent penalties, including up to five years’ imprisonment and fines up to ₹1 lakh for violators. If the offence continues, additional daily fines of ₹5,000 are imposed, with longer prison terms of up to seven years for prolonged contraventions.

In 2023, 39 cases were filed, leading to the seizure of 2,217 bobbins of Chinese manja valued at ₹10.61 lakh. In 2024, this figure more than doubled, with 6,261 bobbins confiscated across 49 cases, amounting to a value of ₹37.02 lakh.