Cuttack, Jan. 19: Police are contemplating a ban on the plastic thread, also known as the Chinese dor, used for flying kites in the state.

The move comes following the death of a six-year-old girl Swetalina Behera, whose throat was silt by the thread of a kite on the NH-5 here last evening.

Deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora told The Telegraph that a review would be done on the types of thread used by kite fliers in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

Swetalina was returning home on a motorcycle from Niali with her parents when the thread slashed her throat around 5.45pm yesterday. The kindergarten girl was rushed to a private hospital at Telengapentha, where she was declared brought dead.

Sadar police have registered an unnatural death case, said sources.

On January 4 last year, Satyaranjan Behera, 25, had died in a similar fashion while travelling on a two-wheeler near Khannagar.

"We have decided to conduct a review and at the same time check the source of supply of the thread used for flying kites," said Arora.

He said the police commissioner would be apprised of the situation and urged to ensure that the thread was banned at least in the twin cities.

"We will submit a detailed report after reviewing whether the thread is banned in other states and approach the government for necessary action," Arora said.

Sources said earlier people in the twin cities, especially Cuttack, used to make manja by applying glass coating and arrowroot to cotton or mixed nylon thread.

However, the arrival of Chinese dor (plastic string) in 2013 hit the practice of making manja at home.

The plastic kite string is easily available in the market and cost between Rs 60 and Rs 250 a roll. These Chinese thread rolls come from suppliers in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.

"The plastic thread does not break easily and causes severe injuries. Two people have already died in Cuttack in the last two years from it and this is a reason to worry," said Akhilesh Pradhan, a resident.

Pradhan said the police should immediately ban the use and sale of this thread.