In a significant crackdown on the illegal sale of dangerous kite-flying strings, the Nashik Crime Branch has detained a 19-year-old youth and confiscated a large stock of banned nylon manja. The operation, conducted in the Upnagar area, led to the recovery of material valued at over seventy thousand rupees.
Police Vigilance Leads to Major Seizure
Acting on a specific tip-off received during patrols on Sunday, officials from Crime Branch Unit 2 sprang into action. The information pointed towards the clandestine sale of the prohibited nylon manja in the Jagtap Mala locality. Under the guidance of Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kirankumar Chavan, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Mitke, a dedicated team was formed by API Hemant Todkar to investigate the lead.
The team conducted a raid at the specified location on Monday. During the operation, they successfully detained the young man from the area. A search of his possession yielded a shocking haul of 66 reels of nylon manja, a type of glass-coated string notorious for causing fatal injuries to humans, birds, and animals during kite-flying festivals.
Legal Action and Environmental Hazard
The police have estimated the value of the seized consignment to be more than Rs 70,000, highlighting the scale of the illegal trade. Following the detention, a formal case has been registered against the accused under multiple legal provisions.
The charges include sections 223 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 292 (punishment for public nuisance), and 293 (continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue) of the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Additionally, relevant sections of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act have been invoked, underscoring the serious environmental and public safety concerns posed by the material.
A Continued Crackdown for Public Safety
This seizure is part of an ongoing and strict vigil maintained by the Nashik police to completely eradicate the sale of nylon manja within the city limits. Authorities have repeatedly warned about the dangers of this sharp string, which has been responsible for numerous deaths and severe injuries across the country, particularly during Makar Sankranti and Independence Day festivities.
The successful operation sends a strong message to those involved in the illegal trade of this hazardous product. The Nashik Crime Branch has affirmed its commitment to continue such drives to ensure public safety and prevent harm to wildlife, urging citizens to use only safe, cotton-based strings for kite flying.
