Nagpur Crime Branch seizes banned nylon manja worth Rs 10.80 lakh from auto, one held

The anti-vehicle theft squad of the Nagpur Crime Branch seized banned nylon manja from an auto during patrolling in the Wathoda police station area. Police arrested one accused, while a associate of his has been declared absconding.

According to police, the arrested accused has been identified as Sajid Ahmed Shakeel Ahmed (28), a resident of Ansar Nagar, Mominpura. Police seized 380 reels of nylon manja from him, valued at Rs 10.80 lakh.

The second man, whom police have described as absconding, is named Badre Alam and is said to be a resident of the Poli river area.

The incident took place around 12 am on Monday night. The Crime Branch squad was patrolling Symbiosis College Road under the Wathoda police station. Near Janata Garage in Bidgaon, police noticed the driver of an auto bearing registration number MH-49-CF 2274 in suspicious circumstances.

When police stopped the auto and began questioning him, Sajid panicked. Plastic sacks kept in the auto were then searched. They contained 380 reels of nylon manja, of the Monocarbite and Monokite Golla varieties.

During further questioning, Sajid told police that Badre Alam had given him the consignment. According to police, he was to deliver it to the holder of a mobile number, 946-4809457.

Police have registered a case against all three under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 5 and 15 of the Environment Protection Act. Goods worth a total of Rs 13.90 lakh, including the auto, a mobile phone and the manja, were seized in the action.

Wathoda police are investigating the case further. The action was carried out by API Nitin Kulpar, ASI Deepak Rite, and head constables Shambhu Singh Kirar, Sachin Badiye, Kishor Somkuwar, Vivek Kawadkar and Rahul Kusrame.

Police said a special drive is currently being run by the administration against the illegal transport and storage of banned nylon manja. Police officers said that in Nagpur city, this deadly manja, used in kite flying on Makar Sankranti and other festivals, becomes a major threat to the lives of people and birds.

Officials said clearly that no accused involved in such illegal trade will be spared and that action will continue.