'Death Due To Chinese Manjha Is Akin To Murder': UP CM Yogi Orders Crackdown On Banned Kite String

Last Updated:February 06, 2026, 14:19 IST

Yogi Adityanath has directed all district police units to launch intensive raid operations, not only against the sale of Chinese manjha but also its storage and transportation.

“Any death caused by Chinese manjha is no less than murder," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, ordering a statewide crackdown on the banned kite string after a series of fatal incidents, including the recent killing of a biker in Lucknow whose throat was slit by the razor-sharp thread.

The Chief Minister ordered a high-level, state-wide campaign to dismantle the entire supply chain of Chinese manjha, warning police officials against any laxity in enforcement. “Chinese kite string is completely banned, and its continued availability is a matter of serious concern. There can be no compromise on public safety," Yogi Adityanath said in an official statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government.

He directed all district police units to launch intensive raid operations, not only against the sale of Chinese manjha but also its storage and transportation. The progress of the campaign, he said, would be reviewed regularly at the highest level. “Any death caused due to Chinese kite string is akin to murder, and strict legal action will be taken against those responsible," the statement added.

The Chief Minister’s stern warning comes in the wake of back-to-back incidents across the state, including a fatal case in Lucknow that has once again exposed the deadly consequences of the illegal string.

Lucknow biker dies after throat slit by manjha

On Wednesday afternoon, 33-year-old Mohammad Shoaib lost his life after a Chinese kite string slashed his neck while he was riding a motorcycle in Lucknow. The incident occurred around 2 pm on the Haiderganj overbridge under the Khala Bazar police station area.

According to police and family members, the sharp string got entangled around Shoaib’s neck, causing him to lose control of his bike and collapse on the road, bleeding profusely. Passersby rushed him to the Trauma Centre, where doctors fought to save him for nearly ten minutes before he succumbed during treatment.

“Shoaib was brought in a critical condition. His neck arteries were severed, and he had lost a massive amount of blood," a doctor at the Trauma Centre said. “Despite immediate treatment, he could not be saved."

Shoaib, a medical representative with a pharmaceutical company, is survived by his wife Fouzia, their two daughters—seven-year-old Bushra and two-year-old Ikra – and extended family. His sister is a doctor based in Delhi.

Inspector Brijesh Singh of Khala Bazar police station said the body had been sent for post-mortem examination and further action would be taken based on the family’s complaint.

Within 24 hours of Shoaib’s death, Lucknow witnessed another incident in which a retired Army personnel suffered deep facial injuries and required nearly 30 stitches after coming into contact with Chinese manjha while commuting, underscoring the scale of the danger.

A recurring, deadly pattern across UP

Shoaib’s death is not an isolated tragedy. Over the past year, Chinese manjha has turned roads and flyovers across Uttar Pradesh into death traps, particularly for two-wheeler riders.

On January 11, 2025, Shahjahanpur constable Shah Rukh Hasan died after a Chinese manjha slashed his neck while he was heading to duty. In December 2025, assistant professor Sandeep Tiwari was killed in Jaunpur when a loose strand of the string slit his throat as he returned home after dropping his son at school.

Similar fatalities were reported from Aligarh, Gorakhpur and Shahjahanpur, while several others narrowly escaped death after sustaining deep neck and facial injuries. Together, these cases point to an alarming pattern—Chinese manjha is no longer a festive nuisance but a recurring public safety hazard.

Why Chinese manjha is so lethal

Experts say Chinese manjha is far more dangerous than traditional cotton kite thread. Made of synthetic nylon or plastic, it is often coated with powdered glass, metal dust or chemical abrasives, giving it a blade-like edge.

“When loose strands hang from trees, electric poles or flyovers, they become invisible traps," said Mohammed Ashraf, a traditional kite maker from Bareilly. “At speed, even a thin string can cut through skin, muscle and blood vessels."

Doctors describe injuries caused by Chinese manjha as catastrophic. “These are deep incised wounds," said a senior surgeon at a government hospital. “Major arteries or even the windpipe can be severed within seconds. Many victims bleed to death before help arrives."

Ban exists, enforcement lags

Chinese manjha is officially banned in Uttar Pradesh under environmental and public safety laws, with provisions for imprisonment and heavy fines. Police officials admit, however, that enforcement remains a challenge.

“Despite repeated seizures and awareness drives, Chinese manjha continues to enter the state through illegal channels," a senior police officer said. “It is often sold secretly or mislabeled as ordinary thread."

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