Bhopal: Police Crackdown On sale Of Chinese Kite Strings Ahead Of Makar Sankranti

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Ahead of the Makar Sankranti festival, police are set to launch a drive to ensure that Chinese string, also known as killer string, is not used for kite flying. The authorities will conduct inspections at local kite shops to examine the strings being sold to customers.

About a month ago, Bhopal police had issued a directive banning the sale, use, and storage of Chinese kite strings in the city due to the risks they pose to commuters, as well as to birds and animals.

There have been multiple reports of injuries caused by these dangerous strings in the city, although kite traders deny selling them. Mohd Khalid, a kite trader in the Laxmi Talkies area, said that no local traders sell Chinese kite strings because of the risks involved. He said that kite strings in Bhopal are sourced from cities like Bareilly, Rampur, and other parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Similarly, another kite seller in the Old City, Raja, acknowledged the popularity of Chinese kite strings due to their strength but affirmed that they are no longer available in the market. However, a kite flyer said out that nylon-based "manjha" (kite string) coated with glass and metal powder is just as dangerous as Chinese kite strings because it does not break easily.

On the other hand, manjha made from normal thread coated with glass is breakable and poses less of a danger to both humans and animals. Bhopal Commissioner of Police, Harinarayan Chari Mishra, assured the public that the police will take necessary measures to prevent the use of Chinese kite string, emphasising that such materials pose significant threats to both people and wildlife.

He said that a special drive will be carried out to inspect kite shops and ensure that the dangerous strings are not sold. Deadly strings In addition to several past incidents of injuries caused by kite strings in Bhopal, there have been recent cases in nearby areas.

A week ago, in Obaidullaganj, a woman suffered severe cuts when a kite string became entangled around her neck. On December 16, a youth in Narmadapuram sustained injuries to his throat from a kite string. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety risks posed by dangerous kite strings.