Many two-wheeler riders in Nagpur are now fitting aluminum rods to their scooters and bikes to protect their necks and faces from nylon manja, a problem the city police have been trying to stamp out for years.The rods are commonplace in parts of Gujarat.
At Kalamna Chowk, it was spotted that Nagpur police were providing these rods for free to two-wheeler riders who were keen on avoiding stitches.

Every year during the kite-flying season, Nagpur records several cases of two-wheeler riders sustaining severe injuries.

“I’ve been hearing for so many years that nylon manja is banned, but it’s still being sold somewhere. I don’t think it will ever vanish, so this is the only option we have to protect ourselves,” said Rushikesh Dabhade, a rider near Kalamna Chowk.

“Because of the fear of manja, we can’t stop going out for work. I’m thankful to the police for taking so much effort to curb this situation and protect the public from nylon manja,” said another biker, Ganesh Umredkar, who was on his way to work.

“Apart from wearing a helmet and wrapping a scarf around our necks, we still fear the manja. But now, using this rod gives us a little peace of mind, I believe,” said Vrushali Shende, another rider.