Hyd Police Seized Chinese Manja, arrested 143

Ahead of Sankranti, Hyderabad police launched a massive crackdown on the banned Chinese Manja, seizing contraband worth ₹1.24 crore and arresting 143 people, officials said on Wednesday. Police registered 103 cases and confiscated 6,226 bobbins of the deadly synthetic kite string during intensified enforcement across the city.

Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar said Chinese Manja is a “silent killer” that poses grave danger to humans, birds, and animals, warning of zero tolerance despite attempts by traders to shift sales online. He said special teams and round-the-clock digital surveillance have been deployed to curb illegal manufacture, storage, transport, and online sales. Authorities also urged parents to remain vigilant, citing recent incidents where motorcyclists—including a constable and a student—suffered serious neck injuries due to the banned string.