Cuttack Kite Mishap: DCP appeals people to tip off police on sale of Manja string

Cuttack: As part of the drive against sale of glass-coated (Manja) kite string , the Commissionerate Police today appealed to people of the city to share information on storage and sale of the banned Chinese string .

Informing this, DCP Prateek Singh said people can contact the local police or dial 112 to tip off the cops about sale of the banned  Chinese string. Identity of people sharing the information will be kept secret, he added.

“While one has been arrested, 14 shopkeepers and kite flyers in the city were detained in connection with four cases and later released with notice. A large number of kite spools, kites and Chinese Manja bundles have been seized following raids on different godowns in the city.

Also Read: Cuttack kite manja mishap: Police raid shops in city, trader detained

On January 26, one Jayant Samal (31) was killed after his throat was slit with Manja in Jagatpur area while he was travelling on a motorcycle with his wife riding the pillion. Similarly, another person in Puri was critically injured when a Manja string got entangled around his neck.

The Cuttack DCP today reiterated that stringent action will be taken against people involved in manufacturing and sell of the ‘killer’ kite strings.

Earlier in January, 2016, a girl was killed due to the same reason, following which the Orissa High Court (HC) had directed the Twin City police to take steps to stop the sale and use of Chinese Manja.