India, Feb. 7 -- The Uttar Pradesh Government has launched a crackdown against the manufacture, sale and distribution of banned Chinese manjha (kite string), and ordered an intensive probe into the entire supply network operating in the State.

According to an official statement issued on Friday, the action comes a day after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said deaths caused by Chinese manjha should not be treated as "mere accidents" but as serious crimes amounting to "murder", and directed officials to take stringent legal action against everyone involved -- producers, sellers, transporters and warehouse operators. Following the directive, district administrations have been asked to carry out intensive checks of wholesale markets, online ...