Hyderabad: January 8, Posted on 6:11 PM IST
Ahead of Sankranti celebrations, Hyderabad City Police intensified their crackdown on the banned synthetic kite string known as Chinese Manja. The drive led to the seizure of over ₹1.24 crore worth of contraband and the arrest of 143 individuals.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar stated that the festival of Sankranti should symbolize joy, not danger. He reaffirmed the government’s complete ban on Chinese Manja, citing its severe risks to humans, birds, and the environment.
“Despite the prohibition, some continue to sell and transport Chinese Manja secretly. We will not tolerate this. Those caught will face immediate legal action,” said Sajjanar, adding that special police teams have been deployed across all city zones.
He further noted that certain traders had shifted operations to online platforms. “We have implemented continuous surveillance on e-commerce and social media to detect illegal sales. Action will be strict and swift,” he warned.
Citizens were urged to use traditional cotton threads and report violations through Dial 100 or WhatsApp at 94906 16555. The Commissioner also cautioned parents about the metallic coating in Chinese Manja that can cause injuries and electric shocks.
As part of the ongoing enforcement drive, police registered 103 cases and arrested 143 people, seizing 6,226 bobbins of banned Manja valued at ₹1,24,52,000. The South West Zone reported the highest number of cases, followed by the South and East Zones.
The Commissioner’s Task Force accounted for the majority of seizures — 67 cases, 87 arrests, and material worth nearly ₹68.78 lakh. Senior police officials, including Addl. CP M. Srinivasulu and DCPs Khare Kiran Prabhakar, G. Chandra Mohan, and Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath, were present during the briefing. The Commissioner commended the officers and presented cash awards for their efforts.
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