UP CM declares “Chinese Manja” deaths as murder, orders strict action

Chinese kite strings cause fatal accidents. Representational Image

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday directed that deaths caused by "Chinese manja" (razor-sharp kite strings) be treated as murder. He also ordered the strictest possible action against those found guilty. The directive comes after a motorcyclist died in Lucknow allegedly after his throat was slit by a kite string, and follows a rise in similar incidents across the state capital.

The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a post on X that Adityanath has "taken serious note of fatalities linked to Chinese manja" and instructed authorities to act against its manufacture, sale, and use. "Taking cognisance of accidents caused by Chinese manja, the chief minister has directed strict enforcement against it and ordered a statewide campaign along with a high-level review. The deaths due to this should be treated under the category of murder," the post added according to PTI.

Adityanath stressed that the Uttar Pradesh government is fully committed to protecting public life.

Fatal kite string incident in Lucknow

On Wednesday, 34-year-old Syed Shoaib, a medical representative from Sitee Bihar in Dubagga, died after a Chinese manja allegedly cut his throat on the Haiderganj overbridge in Lucknow's Bazarkhala area.

Police said the kite string, sharp and strong, severed a major vein while Shoaib was riding his motorcycle. Losing control, he fell onto the road. Bystanders rushed him to a trauma centre in an e-rickshaw, but doctors declared him dead due to excessive blood loss.

In another recent incident, metro services in Lucknow were disrupted when a kite string fell on a high-tension line, forcing trains to halt mid-route.

Fatalities every year around the Nation

Humans are also affected - 45-year-old Bharat Kadam was seriously cut by manja on the Andheri flyover, though his windpipe was spared. The life of a five year old in Hyderabad was claimed due to nylon kite strings. They cause multiple deaths annually. In Gujarat, four people, including children, died during Uttarayan, and emergency cases rose 33 percent due to kite strings, falls, and electrocutions. Activists call for stricter enforcement and awareness campaigns.

Animals not spared

During Makar Sankranti, Mumbai NGOs rescued over 50 injured birds. A sub-adult macaque was critically injured after getting entangled in a kite string near Sanjay Gandhi National Park on Jan 27. Multiple cases like these surface and despite bans, glass, Chinese, and nylon manja continue to be used, harming animals and humans, says Advocate Pawan Sharma of RAWW.

(With PTI Inputs)