Indian SP Confiscates Mosque Mic, Arrests Imam After Azan
A Muslim cleric has been arrested and his loudspeaker confiscated in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district on the orders of the district administration after the call to prayer (azan) was heard being broadcast through a mosque’s loudspeaker. According to a Hindi media report, District Magistrate Umesh Pratap Singh and Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Kumar Vishnoi heard the sound of the azan coming from a mosque in the Makbara area last Saturday while on their way to attend a public grievance redressal event called ‘Samadhan Divas.’
Following this, the Superintendent of Police immediately summoned local police to the scene. The police confiscated the loudspeaker installed at the mosque and took Muhammad Faizan into custody. Police alleged that the volume of the loudspeaker exceeded the prescribed permissible limits. Sub-Inspector Saurabh Kumar lodged a complaint, based on which a case was registered against Muhammad Faizan.
The Station House Officer (SHO) of the local police station stated that Mr. Faizan was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace. According to the report, he was subsequently produced before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s court, which ordered him to be sent to jail. Notably, the report did not mention what the decibel level of the sound in the mosque was, or whether any authority had measured it before taking action. Citing negligence in enforcing loudspeaker usage regulations, the SP suspended beat constable Lalit Kumar.
SP Vishnoi stated that loudspeakers will not be permitted to be played above prescribed decibel levels at religious places. He further mentioned that religious leaders had been warned, and all station SHOs have been instructed to obtain undertakings or affidavits from beat constables ensuring that noise regulations are being complied with in their respective areas. He warned that if any violations occur hereafter, strict action will be taken against both the Station House Officer (SHO) and the beat constable of the concerned police station.
