Punjab launches crackdown on dangerous Chinese kite string - 'manjha'

Amidst the ongoing campaign to make Punjab a Safe and secure state as desired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla on Wednesday launched a campaign against the deadly Chinese Kite String, also known as 'manjha'.

The initiative aims to curb the sale and use of these fatal kite flying strings as per directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.

Special DGP Arpit Shukla accompanied by Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma in Jalandhar and CP Kuldeep Singh Chahal in Ludhiana visited local market areas in both the cities and interacted with kite seller vendors, and encouraged them to refrain from selling Chinese plastic kite strings.

He also urged shopkeepers to report any illegal sale or use of manjha, warning of strict action against those involved.

The Special DGP said that the police have taken swift action against sellers trading in the Chinese Kite string. In the last 20 days, police teams have recovered 80,879 Chinese dor bundles and registered 90 First Information Reports (FIRs) against individuals involved in selling these fatal kite flying strings across the state. 

Apart from launching a campaign against the Chinese string, he also supervised the security arrangements and ongoing special operations in Jalandhar and Ludhiana in the run up to Republic Day-2025. He also conducted well-planned, and strategic raids at key locations across both the cities.

Special DGP Arpit Shukla issued directions to bolster police presence at public venues and intensify surveillance and patrolling across critical areas in the jurisdictions of Jalandhar and Ludhiana Commissionerates.

He also launched a series of extensive security operations, with a special focus on the heightened surveillance of crowded market areas, malls, and other public spaces.

The Special DGP has directed all the CPs/SSPs to increase the number of police checkpoints in their respective jurisdictions. Police personnel will conduct thorough inspections of vehicles passing through these checkpoints, ensuring that a maximum number of vehicles are checked, he added.