Dear Editor, Through your esteemed daily, I would like to bring to the notice of All District Administrations that despite ban by High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in the PIL filed by ‘Save Animals Value Environment’ and blanket ban by National Green Tribunal on sale/ purchase of Chinese Manjha (Gattoo) and other synthetic/nylon thread and those which are coated with synthetic materials are still purchased and sold by many shopkeepers in Jammu District. Many casualties are reported in various areas of Jammu during the festival of Raksha Bandhan due to kite flying after the people get stuck in the dreaded Chinese string which has been banned in the State. But flouting the ban orders, some businessmen still sell deadly kite flying strings which later prove nightmarish for the people, and many casualties are reported from different parts of the Jammu after people got trapped in the Chinese string used for kite flying. According to official reports in 2016 itself, two patients were admitted in Government Medical College & Hospital with deep injuries they received after being struck by the Chinese string which was used by some people for kite flying on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. According to data available in GMC two persons including Khajoor Raj of Sunjwan were admitted in GMC with deep cuts on their nose face and neck after they got stuck in the Chinese strings in their respective areas. Later they were referred to ENT Department Shalamar for specialized treatment. Khajoor got some stitches on his nose and he still is doubtful whether the wound will heal fully or he may have to face some problem for the rest of his life. In addition to this over a dozen people were injured due to kite strings in different parts of the city and rural areas of Jammu who were admitted to the ENT ward of GMC at Shalamar and other private clinics and discharged after getting first aid. Though police are on its job to enforce the ban on the sale of Chinese string but to evade the police eye traders hide the strings in the dickey of scooters, Scooties or back yard of their shops and deliver the customers on-demand by getting it from the hidden places. However, there is growing concern among the people that despite the ban on the sale and use of Chinese string it is available in the market and people purchase it easily, thereby putting the lives of common masses to grave risk. On this Raksha Bandhan, Many birds have died and several injured and some humans also received severe injuries due to this Chinese Manjha. We have already started our awareness drive on non-use of banned Chinese manjha 2 weeks before Raksha Bandhan but still, there is an open violation by shopkeepers of Pacca Danga, Nai Basti and Khadika Talab. They have kept Chinese Manjha in their Godown and selling them. Please kindly issue an order to book the violators of order, as well as NGT order, shall be booked under Public Safety Act (PSA). Devinder Kour Madaan, Jammu.
