Hyderabad police warn kite traders against stocking prohibited Chinese manja

Hyderabad police have warned kite sellers not to purchase or stock Chinese manja before demand rises during the winter and Sankranti season. The Golconda Zone police issued the warning at a meeting with shop owners and sellers at Nampally Exhibition Grounds. The warning covers placing advance orders, making payments, booking, storing, transporting, distributing or selling the prohibited synthetic string.

Deputy Commissioner of Police J. Raghavender Reddy said traders should not make advance arrangements because they might later try to sell stock to recover money already spent. The officer said prior expenditure would not be accepted as a justification for selling the string.

Anyone involved in procurement, storage, transport, distribution or sale would face legal action, he warned. Police cited several incidents to explain the danger. In January 2023, a six-year-old girl riding on a two-wheeler near the Nagole flyover suffered a severe neck injury.

The following year, Army Naik Kagithala Koteswara Reddy died after a string became entangled around his neck while he was riding near Langar Houz. A Hyderabad police constable suffered a deep neck cut in January 2025 when Chinese manja became entangled around him on the Tilak Nagar-Narayanguda flyover road. Police also said an animal-rescue organisation rescued 1,175 birds in and around the city during 2024, of which 400 died during rescue or rehabilitation.

Raghavender Reddy said the string is generally made from synthetic or nylon material and may be coated with abrasive substances. Discarded strands can remain dangerous when caught on trees, buildings and electric poles. Police urged traders to promote permitted kite strings and inform authorities about sales or distribution of Chinese manja.

Parents, children and kite flyers were also asked not to buy or use it.