Raipur horror: 'Chinese manjha' slits throat of 7-year-old riding two-wheeler with father

RAIPUR: A seven-year-old child died after being severely injured by a banned Chinese kite string (manjha) while riding on a motorbike with his father. The string slashed his neck, leading to his death in Raipur on Sunday.

The young boy, Pushkar Sahu, a resident of Santoshi Nagar, was riding with his father Dhinesh on Sunday evening, heading toward a garden. Near the Pachpedi Naka region, the child, who was standing at the front of the motorbike, suddenly began crying. His father stopped the bike to check on him and was shocked to find the banned Chinese kite string slashing his throat.

Dhinesh attempted to remove the string, but it was stuck tightly and had to be cut with his teeth. By the time the string was removed, Pushkar had suffered significant blood loss and fallen unconscious.

The child was rushed to a children’s hospital, but due to his critical condition, he was referred to Dr. BR Ambedkar Hospital, where he was declared dead.

The parents are in shock and devastated by the loss. Dhinesh Sahu accused the administration and government of negligence for failing to control the use of the banned Chinese manjha in Raipur, which claimed his son’s life.

He criticised the open sale of Chinese kite strings despite the ban and urged the government to take stronger measures to ensure public safety. Pushkar, the younger son of Dhinesh, was a Grade 2 student.

Tikrapara police have registered a case in the matter. Raipur SP Lal Umed Singh stated that the police are working to identify and apprehend those selling and using the banned kite strings, and appropriate action will be taken.

On Monday, a team from the district administration and the municipal body raided shops across all zones and seized eight bundles of banned Chinese kite strings from two shops in Santoshi Nagar.

Woman lawyer injured

In another incident in Pandri, a woman lawyer, Purnasha Kaushik, was riding a scooter when a Chinese kite string got entangled around her neck. She immediately stopped the vehicle and struggled to remove the sharp string, injuring her thumb in the process. She began bleeding profusely.

Passersby quickly assisted her and took her to the hospital, where she received treatment for her injuries. Her condition is reported to be stable.

Chinese kite string, made of nylon and coated with glass or metallic powder, is much sharper than traditional cotton string. It can cause severe cuts and even poses a risk of electrocution when it comes into contact with power lines.

Despite being banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2017, the sale and use of Chinese kite string persist, endangering lives.

Just a few days ago, an NIT student was severely injured in a similar incident. Although the police previously claimed to be taking action against the use of Chinese kite strings, significant steps to curb their widespread use are yet to be seen.