Despite repeated police directives to curb the sale of banned kite nylon strings, the deadly manjha menace continues unabated in the Sangam city. In the last two days, two commuters narrowly escaped death in separate incidents after being injured by the banned string, bringing the tally of victims to over 24 in the last two months.
However, the district police have yet to arrest even a single seller of the prohibited string, commonly referred to as “Chinese Manjha,” despite conducting a three-day intensive checking drive in the district between February 9 and 12.
Meanwhile, police commissioner Joginder Kumar expressed his commitment to prevent anyone from selling or using the deadly string. “All police stations have been instructed to ensure a complete ban on the storage, sale and use of the banned manjha. Anyone found doing so will be dealt with strictly as per law,” he added.
DCP (city) Manish Shandilya said that efforts were being made to keep a strict vigil on the sale and use of the banned string but no arrest had been made in this context so far.
In the first of the two back-to-back incidents, a young man Sahil from Purani Jhunsi narrowly escaped death after the sharp kite string left a deep cut in his throat while he was riding a motorcycle to shop for his wedding near Ewing Christian College on March 30. He was rushed to a hospital and received eight stitches.
Similarly, the next day (March 31), Manoj Mishra of Karelabagh also got a new lease on life after surviving a gash on his throat while riding a two-wheeler. He required nine stitches. Multiple such incidents occurred within the last two months in areas like Attarsuiya, Meerapur, Mutthiganj, Kydganj, Gaughat, Kalyani Devi, Jhunsi, and Daraganj, where people suffered severe injuries.
A source in one of the nearly three dozen flying clubs in the city revealed that the kite string was being brought in from Jaunpur and supplied to different parts of the district. “Owing to a significant profit margin in selling the banned kite string, many kite shops are still allegedly selling it, though not openly, around the Sangam area including Daraganj, Jhunsi, Kydganj, Bairahna, etc,” he claimed.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath recently termed any loss of life caused by the banned kite string “no less than murder” and ordered a statewide crackdown. Likewise, the Allahabad high court also recently directed the state government to effectively check the manufacturing, sale and use of the banned string.
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