Enforcement squad seizes huge cache of Chinese Manja thread in Odisha

Cuttack Police confiscated a significant quantity of Chinese manja on Thursday, following a crackdown on illegal trading of previously banned products. The CMC enforcement squad conducted raids at several shops and warehouses in Jhola Sahi locality, suspected of selling the prohibited Chinese Manja thread (a typical kite string).

Also Read: Banned Chinese manja leaves two bikers injured in Cuttack

Chinese Manja, often coated with tiny pieces of broken glass or other harmful materials, has been banned by the district administration due to safety risks to people and animals. Officials stated that the seizure was part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal trade and ensure public safety during kite-flying festivals.

Authorities have warned shopkeepers against storing or selling banned Manja and indicated that stricter action will follow for any future violations.

“We have formed two separate 8-member teams of the CMC enforcement squad to carry out simultaneous raids in the civic limits, keeping in mind the upcoming Makar Sankranti,” CMC Junior Enforcement Officer (JEO), Prasun Kumar Sahu, said to OTV.

“Based on intelligence inputs provided by the two teams, we have carried out raids today at Pithapur, Choudhury Bazaar, and Jhola Sahi localities. Following surprise raids, we seized four large sacks containing Chinese Manja threads,” the CMC official stated.

“Chinese Manja threads were previously banned by the civic body after several individuals and animals were severely harmed due to it. We appeal to the denizens not to use Chinese Manja, and rather to fly kites through normal cotton threads,” JEO Sahu expressed.

Worth mentioning, millions of people celebrate Makar Sankranti every year across Odisha on January 14. Kite enthusiasts use the lethal sharp kite string (Manja) to cut someone else’s kite or to prevent their kite from being cut in the air.

When such kite threads come in contact with a two-wheeler rider or an animal, it cuts the throat and causes severe injury or even death of the victim.