Man riding motorcycle dies as manja slits his throat in Bidar

A 48-year-old man was killed after a kite string (manja) slit his throat while he was riding a motorcycle at Talmadgi village in Chitaguppa taluk of Bidar district on Wednesday.

Chinese manja (glass-coated string) for kite flying is banned but it continues to be used.

The deceased has been identified as Sanjukumar Gundappa Hosamani. He is survived by wife, a son and three daughters.

According to the police and eyewitnesses, the incident occurred near a bridge at Talmadgi when Hosamani was riding his motorcycle to Humnabad town to bring back his daughter who studies at a residential school for the Sankranti holiday.

The manja got entangled around his neck, causing a deep cut that led to profuse bleeding. He reportedly fell off the bike and collapsed on the spot, succumbing to the injuries before help could arrive.

Eyewitnesses said that the sharp kite string caused severe bleeding, leaving him no chance of survival.

Kite flying is common during the Sankranti festival in the Humnabad and Chitaguppa regions where manja is widely used, especially for competitive kite-flying.

Following the incident, district in-charge Minister Eshwar B. Khandre directed the district administration and the Superintendent of Police to identify those responsible for the incident and take action in accordance with the law. He also instructed officials to ensure that no shop in the district sold banned Chinese manja and to create public awareness to prevent such incidents in future.

The Minister also asked officials to immediately send awareness messages through social media and mobile alerts to residents across the district.

He advised two-wheeler riders to take precautionary measures, including covering their necks with a cloth while riding, especially during the Sankranti festival season when kite flying is common.

Following the fatal incident, Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma issued an official order banning the use of manja in the district.

The district administration noted that the use of manja posed serious risks to humans, birds and animals, and also caused environmental damage. While kite flying is permitted using ordinary cotton thread, the use of manja is strictly prohibited.

The ban is in line with directions issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which has outlawed the production, storage, sale and use of such hazardous kite strings.

Officials warned that violators would face legal action under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the Wildlife Protection Act, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).