Three people, including two children, have died after their throat were slit by ( manja) glass-coated strings used for flying kites at Delhi in two separate incidents, on India’s Independence Day.

Saanchi Goyal 3, and Hari 4 were looking out through the sunroof of their cars when sharp strings slit their throats at Rani Bagh.  Manoj Kumar, an off-duty policeman riding his bike, at Cross River Mall, was injured as a kite string grazed his neck. In West Delhi’s Vikaspuri area,  Zafar Khan 22 died in a similar manner when he was riding a motorbike on a flyover.  The Delhi government banned the sale, production, and storage of glass-coated Kite string, following three deaths, any violations could result in a penalty of £1,150 and a five-year Jail term. Kite flying is a favourite sport across India, when millions of them fly kites using sharpened strings.

Glass-coated strings are used for dogfights to bring down competitors’ kites.

Most Indians fly kites to celebrate festivals and holy events. Similar incidents occurred and killed a five-year-old girl in Jaipur in 2014. These strings also kill and maim birds, as at least 500 birds have been admitted to the Charity Birds Hospital in Delhi, in the past three days alone. The hospital treats about 8000 birds a year.

Gaurav Banerjee was killed at Allahabad city in Uttar Pradesh, India on 24 September 2015.