55 held in raids as manja bleeds 4 in a day

The first incident was reported in Madhavaram on Saturday afternoon. The victim Madhavan (32) of Chintadripet was returning home on his two-wheeler from work when on GNT Road near Madhavaram police station a manja thread dangling in the air slit his throat after which he fell on the road. He was rushed to Government Stanley Hospital where he got 13 stitches on his neck. He is said to be stable.

 In the second incident reported in the jurisdiction of Tiruvottiyur police station, a 35-year-old woman suffered deep cut injuries in her neck and suffered a fracture on her right hand and has been admitted in critical condition at Stanley Government Hospital. The victim, Ramani of Ennore, who works at a textile shop in the locality, was returning home with her friend Revathi on a two-wheeler after work when a manja thread slit her throat on Ennore Express Road near the fire station. Since Revathi rode pillion, she escaped with minor injuries.

 Another person by name Purushotaman from Madhavaram was also injured in a similar manner when he was riding through Tiruvottiyur to purchase fish on Saturday evening. It is said that one more person named Pandiarajan was injured while riding on Ennore Expressway and has been admitted to a private hospital.

 While separate cases were registered in Madhavaram, Tiruvottiyur police stations about the incidents, a surprise raid at Madhavaram, Washermenpet and Flower Bazaar police districts on Saturday night led to the seizure of about 200 kites and arrest of five persons. Five spools of manja thread were seized.

 It may be noted that a few days ago, a police couple suffered injuries after a manja thread slit the husband’s throat on Padi flyover after which Villivakkam inspector Rajeesh Babu was moved to the control room as a departmental action. The sale of kites remains rampant online.