Overview
- In Bidar, Karnataka, 48-year-old Sanjukumar Hosamani died after a kite string slit his throat while he rode a motorcycle, and police registered a case and launched an investigation.
- A widely shared video shows the victim trying to call his daughter as he bled, while family members and residents alleged a delayed ambulance response and held a roadside protest.
- Same-day deaths were reported in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur and Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, and Telangana police confirmed a fatality in Sangareddy as they examine whether the string was the banned variety.
- Authorities reiterated that sale and use of glass- or metal-coated synthetic strings are prohibited, with Hyderabad police reporting thousands of reels seized and hundreds of arrests in recent weeks.
- Officials and courts pressed for tougher implementation, with patrols and barricades on bridges, public advisories for riders, and warnings of strict legal action against sellers and users.