Mumbai cops crack whip on manja rule violators

Kids flying kites at Kherwadi along the Western Express Highway

The Mumbai police have become more vigilant ahead of the Makar Sankranti festival, initiating action against people selling or using banned manja. A total of 10 people have been arrested from across the city for possession of the kite string. As per police data, 59 cases have been registered against people who sold or used the banned manja, while manja worth Rs 1,50,590 has been seized so far. "We are taking action against those who sell or buy the banned manja as it is a legal offence. We urge citizens not to buy banned manajs," said an officer.

Glass-coated surti manja purchased in Malad. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

The 10 people arrested have been served notice under CrPc Section 41. "We are taking action against those who are buying and selling the banned manja. So far 30 people have been booked," said Satyanarayan Chaudhary, joint commissioner of police (law and order). A major crackdown against the killer manja was carried out on December 28 and three police stations in the city registered FIRs against people selling the banned nylon manja.

FIRs were lodged at Kurla, Versova, and Pant Nagar police stations. The largest seizure was made by Kurla police which seized manja worth Rs 50,000. "We received information about a person selling this manja in Kurla. We raided his shop and seized the manja," said an officer from Kurla police. Identified as Jamil Ahmed, 28, the seller initially denied dealing in the banned item, but it was found upon checking his shop, leading to an FIR.

The Versova police acted on a tip-off, seizing 12 packets of manja worth Rs 3,400 from a shop near Four Bungalows in Andheri. "Hitesh Patel, the shop owner, was found in possession of these manja intended for sale, resulting in an FIR against him," said a police officer from Versova police station. An officer from Pant Nagar police said, "Acting on a tip-off, we seized manja worth R1,000 from New Vision Store in Kamraj Nagar, leading to an FIR against Santosh Kadalak, 48." Police Constable Sammer Jadhav, 37, lost his life after a kite manja got tangled around his neck while he was riding his bike on the Western Express Highway on December 24.