A delivery executive in Ghaziabad died after his throat was sliced by “Chinese manjha,” a banned synthetic kite string coated with glass particles, while he was transporting goods on his bicycle. The incident, which occurred during the course of his professional duties, underscores a lethal gap between the legal prohibition of hazardous kite-flying materials and the reality of their continued availability in local markets.
The victim was riding his bicycle through a residential area when he encountered a taut string of the synthetic material. According to police reports, the string—which is designed to be abrasive enough to cut through competing strings during kite battles—sliced across the man’s neck. The resulting laceration caused severe hemorrhaging. Although bystanders and emergency responders rushed the executive to a nearby hospital, the depth of the wound and the speed of the blood loss proved fatal; he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
Police investigators believe the string had been deployed as part of a kite-flying activity in the immediate vicinity. The victim, moving at a steady pace on his bike, likely brushed against the nearly invisible line, which acted as a garrote.
Analysis: This fatality is not an isolated accident but a systemic failure of regulatory enforcement. The use of Chinese manjha represents a classic conflict between a popular cultural pastime and public safety. While traditional cotton thread (Sada manjha) is biodegradable and relatively safe, the synthetic alternative—typically made of nylon or plastic and coated with crushed glass or metallic oxides—is non-biodegradable and razor-sharp. The fact that this material was present and taut enough to kill a pedestrian or cyclist indicates that the ban is being ignored at the retail and consumer levels.
The persistence of this hazardous material in Ghaziabad suggests a thriving illicit supply chain. When a product is banned but remains in high demand for a specific seasonal or cultural activity, a black market typically emerges. In this instance, the “illegal trade” mentioned by authorities suggests that suppliers are operating outside the view of law enforcement, potentially using small-scale vendors or clandestine distribution networks to bypass raids.
The danger is compounded by the nature of delivery work in India’s urban centers. Delivery executives often navigate narrow lanes and high-traffic areas on two-wheelers or bicycles, often at speeds that increase the risk of fatal impact with low-hanging wires or strings. For these workers, the urban environment becomes a minefield of unregulated hazards.
The ban on Chinese manjha was reinforced earlier this year, citing not only the risk to human life but also the devastating impact on avian populations. Birds frequently become entangled in the non-biodegradable strings, leading to limb amputation or death. Despite these dual environmental and safety justifications, the material continues to be sold in various markets across the National Capital Region (NCR).
“The ban on Chinese manjha was introduced earlier this year, but the illegal trade of the material continues unabated,” a senior police officer told Hindustan Times. The officer further noted that the department is currently reviewing the specific circumstances of the Ghaziabad incident and intends to pursue legal action against the suppliers of the string.
However, the challenge for the Ghaziabad police and wider administration lies in the difficulty of tracing a string back to a specific vendor. Once a kite is flown and the string is deployed, the physical evidence is often scattered or removed, making it difficult to hold the original seller or the kite-flyer accountable under existing laws.
What to watch next will be whether the Ghaziabad administration moves beyond reactive investigations toward proactive market sweeps. To effectively curb the use of synthetic manjha, authorities would need to implement a multi-pronged strategy: stringent raids on wholesale hubs, heavy fines for retailers found stocking the material, and public awareness campaigns that encourage the use of safe, cotton-based alternatives.
Furthermore, there is a growing need for civic accountability regarding the “right of way” for delivery workers. As the gig economy expands, the vulnerability of these workers to environmental hazards—ranging from poor road infrastructure to illegal kite strings—becomes a matter of public interest. If the state cannot enforce a simple ban on a lethal material, it raises questions about the broader efficacy of urban safety regulations in the NCR.
The death of the delivery executive serves as a grim reminder that legislative bans are meaningless without rigorous field enforcement. Until the supply chain for Chinese manjha is dismantled, the streets of Ghaziabad and neighboring cities remain dangerous for anyone on two wheels. The transition from a “banned” substance to a “removed” substance requires more than police statements; it requires a systematic crackdown on the commercial incentives that keep this lethal product on the market.
Sources:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chinese-manjha-kite-flying-deat-ghaziabad-throat-slit-bike-delivery-executive-bike-101786903109081.html
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Story synopsis gathered from: Hindustan Times – India News — source
