Nagpur City Police and PETA India Seize Hundreds of Spools of Banned, Dangerous Manja in Major Crackdown
Following a complaint from PETA India that dangerous and illegal manja was being sold, Nagpur City police conducted a raid at the Juni Shukrawari market. During the raid, several hundred kilograms, inclusive of approximately 115 spools of illegal manja worth over Rs 1 lakh, were seized, and complaints were filed against the offenders under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. This action follows PETA India’s earlier appeal to address bird and human fatalities caused by sharp kite-flying threads, which prompted the Maharashtra Environment and Climate Change Department to amend its policy in March 2023, requiring that “only a cotton thread, free from any sharp metal or glass or components or adhesives or thread strengthening material, shall be allowed, for kite flying”. In Maharashtra, the prohibition on metal and glass-coated cotton string and other deadly variants supplements the national ban on nylon manja to prevent harm to humans, birds, and other animals and the environment, which was enforced by Nagpur City police with assistance from PETA India.
Manja, in all its forms, is a deadly menace, putting humans, animals, and the environment at grave risk. In Nagpur, these razor-sharp strings have caused heartbreaking tragedies. Earlier this week, a woman who was wearing a helmet still fell prey to manja and suffered an injury. In January 2023, an 11-year-old boy tragically lost his life when a deadly manja string severed his throat. Earlier, a 20-year-old motorcyclist died after getting tangled around in a kite string. And, what started as innocent play with friends turned dangerous when a 5-year-old girl was caught by glass-coated manja, which cut deeper as they tried to remove it. These incidents serve as grim reminders of the catastrophic consequences of using sharp manja, demanding immediate and decisive enforcement to prevent further loss of life.
The dangerous manja thread also has a devastating effect on bird populations. Birds often suffer severe injuries, including mutilated wings or legs, when they become entangled in the string. In many cases, the birds escape with these life-threatening wounds, making it nearly impossible for rescuers to intervene. Numerous NGOs have reported that thousands of birds including pigeons, crows, owls, and endangered vultures are either injured or die slow, painful deaths after becoming ensnared in the threads, especially during or shortly after the kite-flying season.
Beyond the serious risks to humans and animals, manja also presents significant environmental threats. Using nylon, glass, and metal-coated kite strings exacerbates the growing pollution crisis, as these materials can linger in the environment for years. Additionally, these strings pose a danger to infrastructure, with the potential to cause power outages that can impact up to 10,000 people from a single disrupted power line.
In 2024, following an appeal from PETA India, the central government statutory body, the Animal Welfare Board of India, advised all states and union territories to prohibit all manja and permit the use of only plain cotton string for kite-flying. In addition to Maharashtra, the governments of Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Telangana, and Tripura have issued notifications with similar directions.
PETA India urges kite flyers to make the responsible choice by using only plain cotton thread. This simple yet crucial step can prevent devastating injuries and protect countless lives. As we celebrate, let us do so with awareness and compassion that ensures the safety of both humans and animals.
Help Stop the Use of Sharp and Deadly Kite Strings
