The dangerous synthetic threads are being sold at ₹80 to ₹300 per roll. Shopkeepers informed that customers were specifically demanding the banned manjha instead of the traditional cotton thread used for flying kites.
| Photo Credit: Representative image
Despite a ban and strict instructions from the Visakhapatnam police on manjha/Chinese manjha, the sharp thread used to fly kites continues to be sold openly from shops and temporary kiosks across the city ahead of the Sankranti festival. This has raised serious concerns over public safety and enforcement.
In MVP Colony, Akkayyapalem, One Town, Allipuram, Kancharapalem, and Old Gajuwaka many shopkeepers were found selling the banned manjha openly. The dangerous synthetic threads are being sold at ₹80 to ₹300 per roll. Shopkeepers informed that customers were specifically demanding the banned manjha instead of the traditional cotton thread used for flying kites. Some shopkeepers claimed that the material was part of old stock, while others admitted to sourcing the manjha from neighbouring Telangana.
Kite flying is a popular tradition during Sankranti celebrations and areas such as the Beach Road stretch are filled with people flying kites during Bhogi, Sankranti and Kanuma.
In the past, the city witnessed several untoward incidents linked to the use of Chinese manjha. A number of motorists, including children, suffered severe injuries after the sharp thread cut them while they were riding two-wheelers.
Commissioner of Police Shankabratha Bagchi has cautioned that Chinese manjha poses a serious threat to public safety and the environment. Many birds get trapped in the manjha and die, he said. The Commissioner warned that if the thread comes into contact with electric lines, it could lead to electric shocks, fires and even loss of life.
Raids
Meanwhile, the City Task Force (CTF), with the support of the city police teams, conducted special raids across the city on Tuesday (January 13) and seized around 650 rolls of the banned manjha. A large number of manjha rolls were confiscated in the limits of II Town, IV Town, Kancharapalem, Airport, MVP, Pendurthi and several other police stations. Cases have been registered against 11 persons in connection with the seizures.
Published – January 14, 2026 09:50 pm IST
