Chinese manja kills jawan in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A 30-year-old Indian Army Naik Kagithala Koteshwar Reddy died when banned Chinese manja slashed his throat while he was riding a two-wheeler on Saturday.

The incident occurred when Nk Koteshwar Reddy, who was in uniform, was riding his two-wheeler at 7.30 pm on the Indira Reddy flyover en route to the Military Hospital (MH) Golconda to start his night shift. He had been assigned as a driver at the MH.

Langer Houz police, who booked a case, said the glass-coated string slashed Nk Koteshwar Reddy's throat, causing him to lose control and fall on the road. Other motorists rushed him to a private hospital. Subsequently, he was transferred to MH, where he succumbed to severe bleeding.

The cause of death was identified as a cut in the throat leading to heavy bleeding, said Langer House detective inspector M. Raghavandra.

Nk Koteshwar Reddy, a native of Vishakpatnam, had left his home at 7 pm. He had been transferred from Delhi to the city and assigned as a driver at the MH last month.

Nk Koteshwar Reddy is survived by his wife Pratyusha and their two-year-old daughter. They were residing in a rented house in Nalandanagar, police said. The body has been transported to his native place for the final rites.

Nk Koteshwar Reddy's body, draped in the Indian Flag, was placed in a coffin. Colleagues and seniors paid their respects at the Golconda Artillery Centre before the body was handed over to grieving family members.

DSI Raghavendra said the police had registered a case (22 of 2024) for culpable homicide under PIC Section 304 (part-2). He said the police had seized the manja from the site.

The police have initiated a thorough search, asking kite sellers to identify those involved in the sale of Chinese manja.