Ahead of the Sankranti festival, announced a cash reward of ₹5,000 for anyone who provides credible information about the sale of Chinese manjha, a banned nylon kite string notorious for causing serious injuries. Addressing residents, particularly in the Khairatabad constituency, the Congress MLA urged people to immediately report shops selling the hazardous thread, assuring whistleblowers that their identities would be kept strictly confidential. Nagender said the objective was simple: identify the sellers, stop the trade, and discourage the circulation of a product that has repeatedly proved to be life-threatening during the festive season.
Nagender also issued a direct warning to shopkeepers across , asking them to refrain from stocking or selling Chinese manjha under any circumstances. He reiterated that the use of nylon-coated kite strings is illegal and dangerous, stressing that enforcement alone is not enough without public cooperation. By putting a monetary reward on information, the MLA signalled a tougher, more proactive approach, aiming to make local communities part of the crackdown rather than passive observers. The move comes amid growing concern every year that despite bans, the deadly thread continues to find its way into markets ahead of Sankranti.
The urgency of the issue was underscored by a recent incident in , where a food delivery rider sustained a serious neck injury after Chinese manjha got entangled while he was riding through the Shamsheer Gunj area in the Old City. The victim, identified as Jameel from Nawab Sahab Kunta, suffered a deep cut and had to be rushed to a private hospital for treatment. Chinese manjha, unlike traditional cotton kite thread prepared with natural adhesives, is non-biodegradable and coated with abrasive substances, making it razor-sharp and extremely hazardous to pedestrians, riders, and even birds. Incidents like this have once again highlighted the gap between regulations on paper and enforcement on the ground, prompting renewed calls for strict action before the festival turns fatal.
