A 33-year-old software professional in Hyderabad sustained a serious injury after being struck by banned Chinese manja while riding his motorcycle, leading to a police complaint and subsequent arrests of sellers in a city-wide crackdown.
Software Engineer Injured on Gachibowli Flyover
The incident occurred on Sunday around 1:30 PM. K Surya Teja, a resident of Miyapur who works for a Gachibowli-based IT firm, was returning from his office. While traversing the SLN Terminal flyover, he experienced a sudden, sharp pain in his shoulder.
Upon inspection, he discovered a bleeding, deep cut. Teja quickly deduced that a snapped kite string, specifically the banned Chinese manja, had slashed him. His friends rushed to help, arranging an ambulance that took him to a private hospital in Madhapur.
Doctors at the hospital performed a procedure to suture the wound. Hospital authorities confirmed that Teja was admitted as an in-patient for ongoing treatment. Following his medical care, he filed a formal complaint with the police regarding the dangerous incident.
Police Crackdown Nets Sellers in Hyderabad and Suryapet
Acting on such complaints and intelligence, law enforcement agencies have launched a concerted drive against the illegal trade of Chinese manja. In a significant action, Task Force officials arrested a kite shop owner, Mohammed Shazaib, from the Kalapathar area.
Police conducted a raid on his shop and made a substantial seizure. They confiscated 345 bobbins of the banned Chinese manja, valued at approximately ₹6.90 lakh. According to the police, Shazaib allegedly sourced the hazardous material through an associate named Vikram Mehta from Karnal, Haryana, aiming to make quick money through illegal means. A criminal case has been registered against him.
In a parallel operation in Suryapet district, police arrested six individuals for selling the prohibited kite string. These arrests were made during surprise checks conducted by the authorities.
Covert Sales Despite Ban Pose Ongoing Threat
Investigations reveal that while kite sellers are not openly displaying the banned Chinese manja in their shops, a clandestine market thrives. Police suspect that vendors are secretly striking deals with customers who seek out the dangerous string, known for its strength but also for causing fatal injuries to humans and birds due to its glass or metal coating.
The incident involving Surya Teja underscores the severe public safety hazard posed by this material, which can act like a sharp blade when pulled taut at high speed. The recent arrests signal a stricter enforcement of the ban, but authorities continue to warn the public against its use and sale.
