In Nagpur, 11-year-old dies day after nylon manja slits throat

NAGPUR: Ved Shahu, aged around 11, whose throat was slit by nylon manja while on way home from school, near Bhim Chowk in Jaripatka on Saturday, succumbed at a private hospital on Sunday early morning.
Ved, a student of Std V, became the second victim of kite flying craze this season, after 13-year-old Vansh Dhurve was run over by a train at Kumbhar Toli last week. Vansh was chasing a kite.
Many people have also been injured due to nylon manja. From January 1 to 13, police have taken action in 106 cases regarding nylon manja, booked 60 persons and seized material worth Rs 35 lakh.
Ved had bought dabeli — his favourite snack — on the way back home, and it was still in his hand uneaten when the nylon manja silenced him forever. Ved, the younger of two brothers, had left school riding pillion on father Krishna’s scooter. He had decided to switch positions and stand on the footrest in front of his father after buying dabeli.
Shortly after the father-son duo reached Jaripatka Cement Road, a sharp nylon manja descended upon on them. Even as Krishna managed to grab the sharp string falling from the air, the manja was stretched tight from the other side.
The manja inflicted a cut on Krishna’s left palm, and left a wide and deep gash in Ved’s neck. A profusely bleeding Ved was first rushed to Janta Hospital at Jaripatka and later shifted to Alexis Multispecialty Hospital, and finally to Nelson Hospital.
A distraught Krishna, who owns a grocery shop, said he and Ved would return through the lanes but decided to take the main road to buy dabeli, which his son wanted to eat. “I would have been hurt by the manja on my neck or face any other day, as Ved always rode pillion behind me. Just to hold the dabeli in his hand, Ved decided to stand on the footboard in front of me,” said Krishna. He added that both his sons never ate anything outside, but always enjoyed food bought outside after bringing it home.
A relative said excessive bleeding left Ved weak. “Despite 25 stitches, the bleeding did not stop for a long time. We also lost some valuable time as hospitals kept referring Ved to other places for better care,” said a relative.
Though the kin sounded unhappy, Krishna expressed gratitude to all for extending help in the family’s hour of grief.
A case of accidental death was registered at Dhantoli police station as Ved was declared dead at a hospital within its limits, but the case would be transferred to Jaripatka police station.