'Chinese manjha' kills again: Businessman's neck slit in Delhi

In the fourth such incident this year, a 26-year-old businessman has died after his neck was allegedly slit by a 'Chinese manjha' in Delhi's Mansarovar Park area.

The incident took place at Nathu Colony flyover on Sunday, TOI reported. The deceased, Abhishek Kumar, who ran a tent business, was on his way to his home on a scooter when a stray kite got stuck around his neck.

The man's neck was slit by a manjha (glass-coated thread). Within seconds, blood started oozing out from his neck and he fell from the vehicle. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors tried in vain to save him.


The killer thread

'Chinese manjha'- the name is misleading because it is actually made in India - is a glass-coated thread used in flying kites, and is notorious for its tough, plastic-like durability. It was banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2017.

The rule in Delhi says there shall be a "complete ban on the sale, production, storage, supply, import, and use of kite-flying thread made out of nylon, plastic or any other synthetic material, including popularly known as 'Chinese manjha', and any other kite-flying thread that is sharp or made sharp such as being laced with glass, metal or any other sharp material."

Kite-flying is permitted only with a cotton thread, free from any sharp, metallic or glass components or adhesive thread strengthening material. However, despite the ban, it is still in the hands of many people, suggesting illegal sale in markets

Four people have so far been killed by 'Chinese manjha' this year. Just two days ago, a man who was travelling from Delhi to Ghaziabad with his wife and a child on a motorbike died as a manjha slit his throat

'Chinese manjha' is a threat to humans on ground and birds in flight. Official posters have been put up in the market area, mentioning that sale and use in kite-flying of 'Chinese' manjha is illegal.