Hyderabad Cops Seized Rs 1.24 Cr. Worth Killer Chinese Manja

Hyderabad: The city police said they had seized banned Chinese manja — nylon thread coated with powdered glass or metal — worth Rs 1.24 crore during an enforcement drive, registering 103 cases and arresting 143 persons. Police said they seized 6,226 bobbins of the contraband across various zones.

At a press conference, police commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said the police was adopting a "zero tolerance policy” against those selling the lethal thread that has been responsible for several accidents. “Sankranti is a festival of joy, and celebrations should not endanger lives,” he said.

Sajjanar said that the police were monitoring e-commerce platforms and social media, as some traders had shifted to online sales of Chinese manja to evade the law.

The southwest zone emerged as the hub of the illegal trade, accounting for 34 cases and 46 arrests, with the seizures worth Rs 65.3 lakh, followed by south zone with 27 cases and 35 arrests. The commissioner's task force played booked for 67 cases and seized Rs 68.78 lakh worth of the banned thread, the commissioner said.

Sajjanar specifically cautioned parents about the metallic coating on the synthetic thread, which can cause severe injuries and electric shocks to children. He urged citizens to use traditional cotton strings and report violations via Dial 100 or the dedicated WhatsApp helpline 94906 16555.

He congratulated the enforcement teams and presented cash awards to the officers for the successful haul.

The press meet was attended by Additional CP (crimes & SIT) M. Srinivasulu, and DCPs Khare Kiran Prabhakar, G. Chandra Mohan, and Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath.