Makar Sankranti: No sale or storage of 'manja' from Feb 13, says Mumbai police

​​On January 7, the Maharashtra government had banned the use and sale of the ‘manja’ (kite string, coated with glass powder or nylon thread which is known to cause injuries to birds and even people) during Makar Sankranti festival to be celebrated on January 14. 

Further to that, now the Mumbai Police has released a circular stating that from midnight on January 13 to February 10, the use, sale and storage of the pucca threads, maanja, which is made of plastic or any such synthetic material which is likely to cause grievous injury to birds or humans would not be permitted. 

Any person caught using the thread will be penalized under relevent sections of the Indian Penal Code. 

The notice is available in all government offices, police​ ​stations and offices of senior police officers. ​