Five booked, 19 cases registered in crackdown on illegal manja

A senior police officer said, “We have noticed that the use of banned manja has increased significantly due to which we have deputed our men on the road to look for such persons who are selling and using them. Appropriate action is being taken against them.”

The police added that people are flying kites in large numbers as everyone will be celebrating Sankranti in a fortnight’s time.

However, it has been noticed that citizens are using and selling nylon and Chinese manja which are not environmental-friendly.

“Flying kites with nylon manja or Chinese manja injures birds, animals as well as human beings. It can be fatal as well. It is also responsible for clogging drainage lines while natural water courses like rivers, streams, soil are adversely affected due to which the government had banned the sale and usage of such kinds of manja under the Environment Protection Act, 1986,” said an officer.

Despite the ban, people sell and use such manja that caused the death of a police constable, Sameer Jadhav, on Sunday. He was posted at Dindoshi police station in Mumbai and he lost his life while he was riding back to his home in Worli.

“When he was on the western express highway, an unidentified person was flying kite using banned Chinese manja that suddenly slit his throat,” said an officer from Kherwadi police station.

Jadhav was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead before arrival.

Joint Commissioner of Police Satya Narayan (law and order) said, “We have conducted raids, arrested few people responsible and have also seized manja in good quantities. We will take action against individuals who do not comply with the rules and regulations of the government.”