North Delhi a hotspot for Chinese manjha sale: Data

Most cases of the sale of the deadly Chinese manjha (glass-coated kite string) have been reported from north Delhi followed by the outer district, data shared by the Delhi Police shows.

Officers said that the major reason for this is that north district houses Asia’s largest wholesale market — Sadar Bazar — from where people across the city purchase articles during festivals.

Chinese manjha has proved to be lethal for both humans and birds in the Capital. The Delhi government in January 2017 and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in July that year prohibited the sale, manufacture and supply of glass-coated thread across the city.

Last year, at least three people died while 11 sustained injuries due to the string. On July 20, a 7-year-old girl was killed in west Delhi’s Paschim Vihar when she was sitting with her father on a motorcycle.

To keep a check on the sale of Chinese manjha, all 15 districts in the Capital are maintaining an action-taken report on a daily basis which is then reviewed by senior officers at the police headquarters.

According to the data shared by Delhi Police with HT, a total of 56 cases were registered by the north district police in connection with sale of Chinese manjha between July 20 and August 5. This was followed by 54 cases registered by outer district during the same period.

Meanwhile, southwest district registered 32 cases, southeast district registered 15, west district registered 22, northeast district registered 15 and central district registered 17.

Rest of the districts saw less than 10 cases in the period, the data showed. No case was registered in the New Delhi district which constitutes high-profile areas.

A total of 258 cases have been registered in the Capital so far and data will be recorded till around August 15 — Independence Day. In 2022, a total of 271 cases were registered, the data showed.

Deputy commissioner of police (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi said that the reason the district has seen the highest number of cases is because of Sadar Bazar and Burari, both significant markets that sell manjha. “People from all over the city come to Sadar Bazar which is why kite strings are also sold here. However, market associations try to ensure that the synthetic thread is not sold here,” he said.

Kalsi added that another high rate of detection and action is another reason for the high number of cases. “Manjha is a serious concern and whenever its sale is detected, a case is registered so as to send a message to larger public that such instances will not be taken lightly,” he added.

DCP (outer) Harendra Singh, under whose jurisdiction 54 cases were registered, cited strict action as the reason for high number of cases in his district. “A large area comes under the district’s jurisdiction which may also play a role. However, we are taking very strict action against anyone selling the Chinese manjha and no leniency is being practised,” DCP Singh said.

Officers said that measures being taken to prevent the sale of Chinese manjha include visiting markets, both major ones and those in smaller localities. Officers are checking shops for sale of the synthetic string and warning shopkeepers.

However, despite police action, the deadly manjha is discreetly sold, market welfare associations (MWAs) said. “Police may be taking action, but small shopkeepers are selling it in secret. They deny if someone asks them for the first time but after nudging a little, they will sell it,” said Sumit Kumar, 38, President of a MWA in Shahdara.

Deputy commissioner of police PRO Suman Nalwa said, “As a part of the awareness drive, campaigns are also being run on print and radio media. We want to ensure that maximum prevention of selling of the synthetic manjha can take place. Measures are being taken by each district and senior officers are monitoring the situation”