Ludhiana: The banned Chinese ‘manjha’ (string) has not only left many people injured and two dead in Ludhiana district, but has also killed around 250 birds and injured hundreds. This was stated by some city-based bird rescuers. The number is from only two bird shelters in Ludhiana city and such incidents were reported since Lohri festival after the kite flying picked up.The rescuers want that there should be strict action against those selling the Chinese ‘dor’ (string) so that humans and birds don’t suffer because of this menace.
Ramesh Kumar, an attendant at a cowshed in the area falling under Division No. 3 police station, said from Lohri festival till now, they had received about 200 birds at their bird shelter that had suffered injuries due to the Chinese string. He added that people from places like Haibowal, Dugri and other areas of the city come to them with the injured birds.“The birds brought to us include pigeons, house sparrows, parrots, and crows. After giving them the necessary treatment, they are let go. We have infrastructure for 500 birds and as of now we have 400-450 birds and that includes those who have suffered injuries due to the kite strings and also those who are sick due to other reasons,” Ramesh said, adding, “Even as a number of injured birds reach us, there are many such birds that suffer deep cuts due to the string and die.” A member of Bhagwan Mahavir Jeev Sewa Trust, which besides getting birds treated also provides them feed, said they too get many birds that get injured due to the Chinese string. As per the trust officials, they have 25 members from across the city, who work for the cause.Rakesh Jain of the trust said in the last 3-4 days, they had received around 50 such birds that had got string-related injury, even as on routine days they got one or two such birds that were either sick or had injuries. “We have an expert who treats such birds. After treating them and as soon as they recover, those fly away. We have around 3,000 birds and also have birds towers for them and daily provide 150 kg feed to them,” said Jain.Showing his anger over suffering to the birds and humans due to Chinese manjha, the Bhagwan Mahavir Jeev Sewa Trust member said strictest action should be taken to check banned string and the person caught selling the same shouldn’t get bail. He added that if the police acted properly, sale of such banned string would finally stop.Meanwhile, known bird rescuer in Ludhiana Vipan Bhatia, who ran a bird rescue centre, indicated that the number of birds injured due to the Chinese string was higher. Bhatia said though they used to keep such birds, but now they shift such birds to the gaushalla at Division No, 3 area and Hoshiarpur. He added that it was very difficult to keep data of such birds who get injured or die due to the banned manjha, but the number could be even 1,000 in the district as many such birds don’t reach the rescuers.“I can tell that atleast 25-30 birds have died because of the manjha and many more have become handicapped due to injury caused by it. It is dangerous and it has also killed two human beings, including a student, in the district recently,” the bird rescuer said. Meanwhile, a victim of the string, 23-years-old Salman Khan of Mullanpur, who had suffered injuries in the neck due to such the banned manjha on Raikot Road bridge on Dec 30, said the banned string not only caused problems to the people, but it also kills and injures birds. He added that though banned, the Chinese string was still being sold and it should be stopped so that humans, animals and birds didn’t suffer because of it.
