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INDIA: The chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry is being sent an award by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India for banning cruel manja kite string in the Punjab province of Pakistan. PETA India has been working towards banning the use of metal and glass-coated manja across India. Now, PETA India is recognising Chaudhry’s landmark decision by honouring him with PETA’s Hero to Animals Award.
In reaching his decision, Chaudhry cited the Pakistani constitution, which guarantees protection to life and property, and manja was taking away that right. Although glass-coated kite string is banned in parts of India, such as Mumbai and Gujarat, it is sold and used widely – including in places in which it is banned.
“Flying kites with manja may be entertaining for some people, but it is definitely not fun for families who lose their loved ones or for birds whose wings are cut off”, says PETA India’s Campaigner Bhuvaneshwari Gupta. “By banning manja in the Punjab province of Pakistan, Chief Justice Chaudhry has taken direct action to save lives – and now India must do the same.”
The manja used in kite-flying competitions is gummed and coated with powdered and finely crushed or metal glass. This makes it deadly for thousands of pigeons, crows, owls, kites and other birds who get slashed, wounded or killed when they become entangled in the manja. According to news reports, during Makar Sankranti in India in 2011, 23 pigeons were killed by manja and as many as 167 injured birds were rescued by animal welfare activist. Injuries included fractures, wing cuts and nerve damage. Also injured were two parrots, an eagle and a cat.
Manja also takes a terrible human toll. In one incident in the city of Mumbai in India, stray manja nearly cut a child’s throat, and a resident was hospitalised after his neck was slashed by manja while he was riding a scooter. In another incident, a teacher died after his throat was cut by manja. And three people were decapitated by manja during one Makar Sankranti.
