The Secunderabad zone police have arrested 10 persons in multiple operations across the city for possession and illegal sale of banned Chinese manja, seizing 162 bobbins valued at approximately ₹1.88 lakh.
The arrests were made in separate cases registered at Kachiguda, Domalguda and Amberpet police stations as part of a crackdown ahead of Sankranti celebrations to curb the sale of the hazardous nylon thread, which has been blamed for serious injuries to people, birds and animals.
In Chikkadpally division, the Kachiguda police arrested five persons following a tip-off about the illegal stocking and sale of Chinese manja in the Mothi Market area. The arrested include Nomula Santosh Kumar, 26, Nomula Pushpa, 35, who were allegedly selling the banned material from their residence, along with Lalith Singh,39, Kashiram Singh, 38 and Om Prakash Singh, 45. Police seized 106 bobbins of Chinese manja and three mobile phones during the operation.
During questioning, Santosh Kumar confessed to procuring the manja from Lalith Singh, a resident of Dhoolpet, who in turn admitted to sourcing the stock from Lal Kuan in Old Delhi around two months ago. Police said Lalith Singh has a prior criminal record under the NDPS Act. One more accused, identified as 35-year-old Kapil, is absconding.
In the Gandhi Nagar division, Domalguda police arrested four students, identified as Prashanth, Akhil, Pavan and Deepak, all students aged around 19 years, for selling Chinese manja near the NTR Stadium area.
Eight bobbins valued at ₹10,000 were seized from their possession. Police said the accused admitted they were selling the banned material to earn easy commission. Another accused, Shiva Raj, is currently absconding.
In the Osmania University division, Amberpet police arrested 50-year-old K. Sunil Kumar and seized 48 bobbins of Chinese manja worth ₹72,000. Two other accused, identified as Charan and Rajesh, remain at large.
Police said the accused were booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Telangana government has imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, procurement, storage, sale and use of nylon and synthetic threads coated with glass or other harmful substances, commonly known as Chinese dor, citing the grave risk they pose to public safety and wildlife.
Further investigations are ongoing.
