Bhubaneswar, Jan 14: A youth was critically injured after a banned Chinese kite string, commonly known as manja, slit his throat in Bhubaneswar. Following which, the police conducted raids and seized the hazardous thread from markets across the state on Wednesday.
The incident took place in the Pokhariput area when the victim, identified as Kamala Kanta, was travelling on a scooter and came in contact with the sharp kite string, police said.
He suffered serious injuries to his throat and also sustained cuts on his fingers while trying to remove the thread.
The injured youth was initially rushed to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as his condition remained critical, a family member said.
Despite repeated warnings and a ban on the sale and use of manja, some traders continue to sell the dangerous kite string. The police conducted raids in markets across Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri, seizing several bundles of banned kite strings.
Puri City DSP Prasant Kumar Sahu said the police have been running awareness campaigns through mobile vans, urging people not to use banned kite strings during the Makar Sankranti festival.
Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo warned that since prior advisories have already been issued, the use of banned manja would be treated as the use of a weapon and strict legal action would be taken against violators.
Flying kites during Makar Sankranti is a popular tradition in many parts of India, but authorities have repeatedly cautioned that the use of glass-coated kite strings poses a serious threat to public safety.
Puri DSP Prasant Kumar Sahu said the police have been running awareness campaigns through mobile vans, urging people not to use banned kite strings during the Makar Sankranti festival.
Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo warned that since prior advisories have already been issued, the use of banned manja would be treated as the use of a weapon and strict legal action would be taken against violators.
Flying kites during Makar Sankranti is a popular tradition in many parts of India, but authorities have repeatedly cautioned that the use of glass-coated kite strings poses a serious threat to public safety.
