Hyderabad: Chinese manja incidents mar Sankranti celebrations; police warn of strict action

Despite festive celebrations, incidents involving banned Chinese manja caused injuries and deaths during Sankranti. City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said accidents declined compared to previous years, attributing the reduction to awareness drives and strict enforcement.

Hyderabad: Despite the festive spirit of Sankranti, several tragic incidents linked to the use of the banned ‘Chinese manja’ were reported, causing serious injuries to people in the city and loss of lives in other places across the country.

The sharp, plastic-coated kite string proved fatal for pedestrians, two-wheeler riders and birds during the festival time.

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Responding to the issue, City Police Commissioner V.C.Sajjanar took to social media on Friday and said that the illegal sale and use of Chinese manja continue to pose a threat, even though the material was prohibited.

“Sellers and users of the banned thread are being held accountable, with authorities warning of strict legal action. However, compared to previous years, the number of accidents has declined significantly this Sankranti,” he said.

Police officials attributed the reduction to sustained awareness campaigns such as #SayNoToChineseManja and special enforcement drives conducted across the city.

Continued surveillance, raids, and checks on the sale and purchase of manja will continue throughout the year, they said adding that while the decrease in incidents is encouraging their aim was to prevent even a single accident in the coming years.