Hyderabad City Police Commissioner Sri V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, has announced strict enforcement measures against the sale and use of banned Chinese manja during the Sankranti festival season. The top police official made it clear that no leniency will be shown to anyone found secretly selling or storing the dangerous synthetic thread, which poses serious threats to birds and motorists. Criminal cases will be immediately registered against violators, with stringent legal action to follow. The Commissioner has issued clear instructions to field-level officers across the city regarding the control of Chinese manja and the necessary enforcement actions.
While acknowledging that kite flying is a cherished tradition during Sankranti, CP Sajjanar emphasized that the festive activity should not endanger lives. He expressed concern that Chinese manja causes severe environmental damage, remaining intact in soil for years without decomposing. The Commissioner reminded citizens that under the Environment Protection Act-1986, the government has imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of Chinese manja. The police chief warned that this ban will be strictly enforced throughout Hyderabad during the festival period.
A special surveillance system has been established across the city to ensure strict implementation of the ban. Task force police and local police will conduct joint surprise raids on kite sales centers, small grocery shops, and suspicious warehouses in all zones of the city. The enforcement drive will also target transport agencies and parcel services suspected of illegally transporting the banned manja from other states into Hyderabad. Cases will be registered against agency owners if their involvement in such illegal transportation is established.
CP Sajjanar made a special appeal to parents to act responsibly regarding their children’s safety. He explained that Chinese manja is coated with a dangerous mixture of plastic, synthetic materials, and glass powder, which can sever motorcyclists’ necks and children’s fingers. The metallic substances present in the thread can also cause electric shocks upon contact with power lines, potentially leading to fatal accidents. Parents are urged to encourage their children to use only traditional cotton threads for kite flying during the festival.
The Police Commissioner called on city residents to demonstrate social responsibility by reporting any suspicious activity related to banned manja. Citizens who notice anyone openly selling or storing Chinese manja in their neighborhoods should immediately inform Dial 100, the Hyderabad Police WhatsApp number +91 9490616555, or their local police station. The Commissioner assured that the identities of informants will be kept strictly confidential to encourage public cooperation in eliminating this dangerous product from the city.
