The Punjab government has announced a five-year imprisonment and a fine of 1 lakh for flying kites using Chinese manja, and for those caught selling or buying it. The government has issued a stern warning to such individuals. Its worth noting that with the onset of festivals like Lohri, Makar Sankranti, and Basant Panchami, concerns about the use of lethal Chinese manja by kite enthusiasts have heightened, posing a threat to innocent human lives as well as mute animals and birds.
District Commissioner Surbhi Malik has sternly cautioned that the district and police administration will deploy various teams of departmental officials for a massive operation in the district. Suspected shopkeepers selling Chinese manja in their shops, warehouses, and even homes when necessary will be checked. If officials find Chinese manja at the scene, a case will be filed against the shopkeeper on the spot for subsequent action. The teams of employees will patrol during the kite-flying season and keep an eye on individuals involved in buying, selling, or flying kites with Chinese manja. Regardless of whether the user of the deadly thread is a minor or an adult, no leniency will be shown. The DC has urged residents to educate their children about the dangers of Chinese manja and prevent its usage.
It’s imperative to mention that during the kite-flying season, the fast-flying Chinese manja often entangles numerous innocent people and mute creatures, resulting in fatalities. Bird enthusiast Vipin Bhatia mentioned that every year, hundreds of voiceless birds lose their lives permanently due to Chinese manja and suffer immensely while struggling on the ground. In a recent serious incident, a bird got fatally entangled in the high-tension Chinese manja near Kailash Nagar in the Basti Jodhewal area. People rescued the bird from the clutches of the thread and buried it.
In this serious matter, a video clip of C.I.A. Inspector Kapil Kumar, under the direction of Gurdaspur’s DC and Police Chief, is rapidly circulating on social media. He is sternly warning the users of Chinese manja in explicit terms, stating that the district administration has alerted employees from various departments to conduct search operations in their respective jurisdictions, to apprehend individuals involved in selling, buying, or using Chinese manja. Gurdaspur district and police administration have announced a penalty of up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to 1 lakh for the offenders.”