Daijiworld Media Network - Indore

Indore, Jan 12: Defying the statewide ban and intensified enforcement ahead of the Makar Sankranti festival, the razor-sharp Chinese Manja claimed the life of a 45-year-old motorcyclist in Indore on Sunday.

The deceased, identified as Raghubir Dhakad, a tile contractor, was returning home on his motorcycle when his neck came into contact with the sharp kite string stretched across the road between Khajrana and Bengali squares. The string inflicted a deep throat injury, estimated to be nearly two inches deep.

Dhakad was immediately rushed to a hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries during treatment, police said. Officials at Tilak Nagar police station stated that details of the incident are being gathered and appropriate action would follow.

This marks the second fatal incident involving Chinese Manja in Indore within less than three months. On November 30, a 16-year-old boy riding a motorcycle had died after his throat was slit by a similar string.

In another incident on Sunday, a NEET aspirant, Narendra Jamod, sustained severe throat injuries after coming into contact with the banned string while riding a motorcycle on Sapna-Sangeeta Road in western Indore. Jamod, who hails from neighbouring Dhar district and is preparing for NEET in Indore, was rushed to hospital by a friend. His condition is reported to be critical.

Meanwhile, in Chhindwara district, a nine-year-old boy, Atharv Karade, suffered serious injuries after a kite string severely cut his ear while he was playing outside his house. The child reportedly required more than 40 stitches and is currently stated to be stable.

Despite these incidents, authorities reiterated that a strict crackdown is underway across Madhya Pradesh against the stocking, sale and use of Chinese Manja, which is banned due to its lethal nature. In Indore alone, police last week seized banned kite string worth over ?3 lakh from various parts of the city. Similar action has also been initiated in adjoining Ujjain district.

Officials have once again appealed to the public to refrain from using the dangerous string and to report any illegal sale or use to prevent further tragedies.