Pune Police Crackdown On Shopkeepers Selling Banned Manja

Pune, January 14, 2021: The Pune city police crime branch on Wednesday booked shopkeepers for allegedly selling banned nylon Manja, used to fly kites. Due to the nylon Manja, birds and humans face severe injuries. In the last few years, many people have lost their lives due to nylon Manja.

In 2017, National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned the production, storage, sale, and use of nylon or synthetic threads popularly known as “Chinese Manja” across India. Despite a ban on nylon Manja, few sellers continue to sell it before the festival of Makar Sankranti.

Repeated complaints were received by police regarding illegal selling of banned Chinese Manja. Acting on a tip-off received by policemen Sachin Dhawle and Vishal Shirke of Crime Branch Unit 4, police booked Ashraf Tamboli of Juna Bazar, Khadki and Naznin Patel of Janta Nagar, Yerwada, for allegedly selling Chinese nylon Manja. FIRs are registered against them with Khadki and Yerwada police stations.

Acting on a tip-off received by Head Constable Pradeep Shitole of anti-extortion cell, an FIR was registered with Samarth police station against Ayaz Shaikh of Hasanbhai Patangwale, Nana Peth, for allegedly selling the banned item.

They have been booked for an offence under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.