The Allahabad High Court today directed Uttar Pradesh government to "take steps to completely stop the sale and use" of "Chinese manjha", a highly abrasive type of nylon string used for flying kites which has been blamed for a number of accidents across the country.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Yashwant Varma, passed the order on a Public Interest Litigation filed by one Anurag Mishra who had drawn the court's attention towards a number of incidents in the city wherein people had received serious injuries caused by the razor-sharp nylon string coated with glass. Disposing of the PIL, the court also directed the state government to "launch a crackdown on all establishments involved in stocking and sale" of the "Chinese manjha".
Besides causing serious, sometimes fatal, injuries to people, the "Chinese manjha" has been blamed for the death of hundreds of birds in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Mumbai prompting demands from environmental activists for a ban on their use.
In addition, political leaders like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Union Minister of State Santosh Gangwar have spoken repeatedly about dangers associated with the use of "Chinese manjha" and the need for a ban on their import.
