Chinese 'manjha' deaths will be investigated as murder in UP: CM Yogi

• UP to enforce stricter ban on Chinese kite strings after fatal Lucknow incident
• Future deaths from Chinese manjha will be treated as murder, per CM Adityanath
• Raids and seizures ordered; violators face up to 5 years jail and hefty fines

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A ban on the sale and use of Chinese-made kite strings in Uttar Pradesh is set to be enforced with renewed rigour after a deadly incident in Lucknow this week prompted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to issue stringent new directives, including treating future fatalities as murder.

The move follows the death of 35-year-old Mohammad Shoaib, a medical representative, whose neck was fatally slashed by a synthetic ‘manjha’ string while he was riding his scooter on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred on a flyover connecting the Haiderganj intersection to the Talkatora Mill area, according to a report by NBT.

According to police inspector Brajesh Kumar Singh of Bazarkhaala, Shoaib, a resident of Sita Vihar Colony in Dubagga, was on his way to the market. Eyewitnesses described how the nearly invisible string became entangled around his neck on the flyover’s slope. The pull of the string reportedly caused a severe laceration before he lost control of his vehicle and fell.

Shoaib was rushed to a trauma centre but succumbed to his injuries. He is survived by his wife, Fauzia, two young daughters and his mother. His father had died some years prior.

The tragedy has intensified scrutiny over the enforcement of existing bans. The sale of Chinese manjha — a synthetic, often glass-coated string used in kite-flying — is prohibited under orders from the courts and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) due to its dangers to humans, animals and the environment. Despite this, the material continues to be sold clandestinely, raising serious questions about administrative and police efficacy.

In response, Chief Minister Adityanath has expressed strong displeasure over the persistent use of the banned material. In instructions relayed to senior officials, he has mandated comprehensive raids across all districts to seize stocks and halt sales. A high-level review of the state-wide action has been ordered.

Notably, the Chief Minister has decreed that any future deaths caused by Chinese manjha will be investigated as murder, signalling a significant escalation in legal consequence, NBT reported.

Existing penalties for trading or using the string are already severe. Violators can face up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹1 lakh under the Environment Protection Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Additional charges under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which carries a penalty of up to five years and a ₹50,000 fine, may also apply.