Nagpur Rural Police Seize ₹6.26 Crore in Nylon Manja Bust

In a major crackdown, the Nagpur Rural Police successfully dismantled an alleged factory producing banned nylon manja in Silvassa, located approximately 755 kilometers from Nagpur. This operation, conducted on Wednesday, resulted in the seizure of machinery, raw materials, and finished products valued at ₹6.26 crore.

The investigation leading to this operation spanned 10 months, initially triggered by the seizure of a consignment on December 8, 2022, at a logistics yard in Gondkhairi village, under the jurisdiction of the Kalmeshwar police station. During that earlier operation, authorities confiscated 1,200 plastic reels worth ₹14.40 lakh and a container truck valued at ₹20 lakh. The driver of the truck, Chhabinath Nishad, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, has been named as an accused in the case.

Superintendent of Police Harssh A Poddar described this operation as a significant breakthrough, although the owners of the factory have reportedly gone into hiding. He confirmed that the police have identified the proprietors of the manufacturing unit as accused and are actively pursuing them. The police collaborated with the Silvassa civic administration to execute the operation effectively.

The seized items included machinery for manufacturing, winding, and packaging nylon manja, along with finished reels, raw materials, and packaging supplies. The police have sealed the factory, and instead of transporting the seized materials back to Nagpur, they plan to destroy them on-site after obtaining permission from the local court.

This operation is part of broader judicial efforts to enforce a nationwide ban on nylon and other non-biodegradable synthetic kite strings, which pose significant risks to wildlife and human safety. The National Green Tribunal has prohibited the manufacture, sale, storage, purchase, and use of such materials, highlighting the urgency of addressing this environmental concern.