Overview
- Police advisories describe the banned nylon or synthetic, glass- or metal-coated thread as razor-sharp, with risks to two-wheeler riders, birds and animals.
- Four recent cases in Hyderabad included a constable and a student, with one rider needing 22 sutures after the abrasive string cut his neck.
- In Nashik on December 31, a 48-year-old motorcyclist suffered a reported 12–15 cm throat wound on a flyover and remains in critical condition, according to hospital sources.
- Cyberabad Police say the sale, storage, transport and use of Chinese manja are illegal, citing 53 cases registered in 2025 and urging citizens to use cotton thread and follow safety precautions.
- Local administrations have moved to curb sales before the festival, with market inspections in Hyderabad and shop notices disavowing Chinese manja as authorities highlight hidden hazards from strings left on trees and power lines.