Police launch special drive after kite string causes woman’s death

A day after a 38-year old woman was killed as manja (abrasive kite string) slit her throat in Hubballi, the Hubballi Dharwad Police Commissionerate launched a special drive on Friday booking 11 cases, including those against sellers, users and also a parent for allowing a child to use the abrasive string to fly kite.On Thursday, Vidya Manjunath Goudar, a lab technician, was on her way to work on a two-wheeler when the abrasive kite string got entangled around her neck, slitting her throat.In the incident reported at Shivashankar Colony on Karwar Road, Vidya lost control and fell on the road.A profusely bleeding Vidya was rushed to hospital but was declared brought dead by doctors there.Following the death, Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase immediately formed special teams to remove the strings hanging from trees and electrical poles.The special teams carried out the operation on Friday.The Police Commissioner also launched a special drive against sale and use of manja during which the 11 cases were filed in different police stations.During the drive, the police seized bundles of manja strings from various sellers and registered cases against nine sellers operating in different localities.The police also registered a case against a man using manja to fly a kite and a parent who allowed his minor son to fly a kite using manja string.The Police Commissionerate, meanwhile, launched an awareness drive against use of manja for flying kites. It has appealed to the general public to call 112 in case they come across sale and use of manja. Published - October 23, 2026 07:13 pm IST